US – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging consumers to throw away and not purchase six brands of ground cinnamon due to elevated lead levels. The affected products were found to contain lead exceeding safe limits for consumption and could pose health risks with prolonged use.
The FDA tested ground cinnamon products from various discount stores and identified six brands with concerning lead content. These brands are:
- La Fiesta
- Marcum
- MK
- Swad
- Supreme Tradition
- El Chilar
These products were sold at various retailers nationwide, including Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Patel Brothers, and Save A Lot.
Products
| Distributor | Retailers | Brand Names(s) | Lots/Codes | Lead Concentration (ppm) | Product Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Fiesta Food Products La Miranda, CA | La SuperiorSuperMercados | La Fiesta | 25033 | 2.73 |  |
| Moran Foods, LLC Saint Ann, MO | Save A Lot | Marcum | Best By:10/16/25 10D804/06/25 0400B1 | 3.20 2.70 |  |
| MTCI Santa Fe Springs, CA | SF Supermarket | MK | No codes | 2.99 |  |
| Raja Foods LLC Skokie, IL | Patel Brothers | Swad | KX21223 | 2.12 |  |
| Greenbriar International, Inc. Chesapeake, VA | Dollar Tree Family Dollar | Supreme Tradition | Best By:09/29/25 09E804/17/25 04E1112/19/25 12C204/12/25 04ECB1208/24/25 08A_ _04/21/25 04E504/21/25 04E5 2025-09-22 09E20 (Missouri) | 3.372.262.032.343.143.122.883.13 |  |
| El Chilar Apopka, FL | La Joya Morelense (Baltimore, MD) | El Chilar | F275EX1026 (Maryland)D300EX1024 (Maryland) | 3.402.93 |  |
The FDA is advising consumers to:
- Discard any of the listed ground cinnamon products in their possession.
- Not purchase any of the listed brands in the future.
- Seek medical advice if they suspect someone has been exposed to high lead levels.
The FDA has also requested that the involved companies voluntarily recall the products, except for MTCI, which they were unable to contact.
Lead exposure, particularly in children, can cause various health problems, including learning disabilities, developmental delays, and behavioral issues. While no immediate symptoms have been reported in connection with these specific products, the FDA emphasizes the importance of discarding them to prevent potential health risks.
Consumers are encouraged to check their spice racks and dispose of any of the listed ground cinnamon products. They can also contact the FDA website or the specific retailer where they purchased the product for further information.
