FDA warning targets lead levels in cinnamon. Here are the products to watch out for

Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
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Marcum-brand cinnamon sold at Save A Lot and Supreme Tradition-brand cinnamon sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar are subject to an FDA advisory over elevated lead levels.
Marcum-brand cinnamon sold at Save A Lot and Supreme Tradition-brand cinnamon sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar are subject to an FDA advisory over elevated lead levels.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued an alert for elevated lead levels in ground cinnamon products sold at discount stores such as Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and Save A Lot.

The FDA says product testing showed elevated levels of lead and that prolonged exposure to these products may be unsafe. However, no illnesses or adverse events have been reported in association with these products.

What cinnamon products are included in the alert?

These are the products that the FDA has flagged:

  • La Fiesta brand from La Fiesta Food Products, La Miranda, California. Sold at La Superior SuperMercados. Lot code 25033.

  • Marcum brand from Moran Foods, LLC, Saint Ann, Missouri. Sold at Save A Lot. Best by dates of 10/16/25 10DB and 04/06/25 0400B1.

  • MK brand from MTCI, Santa Fe Springs, California. Sold at SF Supermarket.

  • Swad brand from Raja Foods LLC, Skokie, Illinois. Sold at Patel Brothers. Lot or code KX21223.

  • Supreme Tradition brand from Greenbriar International, Inc., Chesapeake, Virginia. Sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. Best by dates of 09/29/25 09E8, 04/17/25  04E11, 12/19/25 12C2, 04/12/25 04ECB12, 08/24/25 08A_ _, 04/21/25 04E5, 04/21/25 04E5 and 2025-09-22 09E20 (Missouri)

  • El Chilar brand from El Chilar, Apopka, Florida. Sold at La Joya Morelense (Baltimore, Maryland). Lot codes F275EX1026 (Maryland) and D300EX1024 (Maryland).

What should you do if you have one of these products?

The FDA's advice to consumers:

  • Don't eat, sell, or serve those ground cinnamon products. Discard them.

  • Check your cupboards as these products have a long shelf life.

  • Talk to your healthcare provider if you suspect someone has been exposed to elevated levels of lead. Most people have no obvious immediate symptoms of lead exposure.

Long-term exposure - meaning months to years - to elevated levels of lead in the diet could contribute to adverse health effects, particularly for the portion of the population that may already have elevated blood lead levels from other exposures to lead.

FDA study an outgrowth of cinnamon applesauce recall

Following the October 2023 recall of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce products due to elevated lead levels linked to the cinnamon in those products, the FDA initiated a targeted survey of ground cinnamon products from discount retail stores and analyzed the samples for lead and chromium. The results of that survey are the basis for this alert.

How does lead get into cinnamon?

Lead can contaminate spices in many ways, according to the Florida Department of Health. It could come from the soil it was planted in or the facility where it was processed, where old equipment or piping with lead in it could contaminate the spices. The way the spices were stored or the intentional addition of lead for weight or color may also lead to contamination.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: FDA warns cinnamon with lead sold at Family Dollar, discount stores