FDA Warns Of Lead In Cinnamon Sold At Family Dollar, Save A Lot, More

ACROSS AMERICA — Federal regulators are warning the public to throw out cinnamon sold at major discount stores — including Save A Lot, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree — that were found to contain elevated levels of lead.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday it tested ground cinnamon products sold at at least eight retailers across the country and found they contained elevated lead levels. Prolonged exposure to these products "may be unsafe," the FDA said.

The agency recommended the firms voluntarily recall the cinnamon products.

Consumers should stop using the products and throw them away.

Below is a list of the products and where they were sold.

La Fiesta

• Distributor: La Fiesta Food Products La Miranda, CA
• Retailers: La Superior, SuperMercados
• Lots/Codes: 25033
• Lead Concentration (PPM): 2.73

Marcum

• Distributor: Moran Foods, LLC Saint Ann, MO
• Retailers: Save A Lot
• Lots/Codes: Best By: 10/16/25 10DB, 04/06/25 0400B1
• Lead Concentration (PPM): 3.20, 2.70

MK

• Distributor: MTCI Santa Fe Springs, CA
• Retailers: SF Supermarket
• Lots/Codes: No codes
• Lead Concentration (PPM): 2.99

Swad

• Distributor: Raja Foods LLC Skokie, IL
• Retailers: Patel Brothers
• Lots/Codes: KX21223
• Lead Concentration (PPM): 2.12

Supreme Tradition

• Distributor: Greenbriar International, Inc. Chesapeake, VA
• Retailers: Dollar Tree, Family Dollar
• Lots/Codes: Best By: 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 2025-09-22 09E20 (Missouri)
• Lead Concentration (PPM): 3.37, 2.26, 2.03, 2.34, 3.14, 3.12, 2.88, 3.13

El Chilar

• Distributor: El Chilar Apopka, FL
• Retailers: La Joya Morelense (Baltimore, MD)
• Lots/Codes: F275EX1026 (Maryland) D300EX1024 (Maryland)
• Lead Concentration (PPM): 3.40, 2.93

Months or years of exposure to elevated levels of lead in the diet could lead to adverse health effects, particularly in people who already have elevated blood lead levels from other exposures. Adverse health effects vary by the consumer's age, levels of lead, how long they were exposed to lead, and even how often they were exposed. Very young children are "particularly vulnerable" to lead exposure because of their smaller body sizes and rapid metabolism and growth.

"High levels of exposure to lead in utero, infancy, and early childhood can lead to neurological effects such as learning disabilities, behavior difficulties, and lowered IQ," the FDA said.

No illnesses or adverse events have been reported to date with the cinnamon products in the latest recall.

The notice comes after a massive recall of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce in October due to elevated lead levels linked to cinnamon. After that investigation, the FDA surveyed ground cinnamon products from discount retail stores and analyzed the samples for lead and chromium.

See also:

• Parents Of Kids With Lead Poisoning Linked To Applesauce Fear Future
• Several Applesauce Products Recalled For Risk Of Elevated Lead Levels

The survey led the FDA to recommend recalls of ground cinnamon from six distributors whose products had elevated lead levels ranging from 2.03 to 3.4 parts per million.

"These levels are significantly lower than the levels of lead associated with the ongoing investigation into ground cinnamon from Ecuador supplied by Negasmart to Austrofoods, the manufacturer of the apple puree and applesauce products, which were between 2,270 ppm to 5,110 ppm in the cinnamon," the FDA said.