It's the latest among a list of similar products flagged for the same issue. There may be a way around the worry, say Harvard experts.
Just the thought of cinnamon can evoke fall feels—and this revered spice serves up more than warm flavor, say Cleveland Clinic experts. For starters, quality cinnamon contains anti-inflammatory properties and may help support healthy blood sugar and even cholesterol values.
However, in recent years cinnamon has gained a new, less favorable association, according to some health authorities. A September 12 warning reinforces the question as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health alert following FDA testing which detected elevated levels of lead in Jiva Organics ground cinnamon. The FDA names Taj Supermarket as a specific retailer, but a brief online search suggests Jiva Organics products may also be found through retailers that include Walmart and Amazon. The company’s site lists a ground cinnamon product that’s “manufactured and packed” as a “product of India.”
The FDA provided the following details:
- Brand Name: Jiva Organics
- Lot Code: AF-CINP/822
- Best Before July 2025
- Distributor: Spicy World of USA
A November 2024 study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology explained there are several ways cinnamon and other spices can become contaminated with lead, a naturally occurring yet toxic heavy metal. Chemistry and biology researchers in Ecuador stated environmental contamination from lead-polluted soil, water, or air are the most common causes, but it can also be introduced at various stages of the production and distribution process, especially if machines used in production are poorly maintained, the study noted. On other occasions, lead is intentionally and illegally added to a product in order to increase the product’s weight or enhance its color. These scientists called this means of intentional usage “particularly concerning and a crime.”
Ongoing lead exposure over the course of months or years could trigger adverse effects in multiple organs, including the brain, bones, kidneys, liver and the nervous system. “[Lead exposure] disrupts physiological functions, causing cardiovascular disorders and respiratory diseases, including lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” those researchers warned.
The FDA alert is the latest in a previous series of FDA warnings regarding elevated lead levels in some cinnamon products. In October 2023, the health authority found that cinnamon‑apple puree and applesauce pouches containing cinnamon showed concerningly high lead and chromium levels. A related report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listed a total of 566 cases—ranging from “confirmed” lead and chromium poisoning to “suspect”—in connection to the recalled cinnamon-apple products. Since then, the FDA has identified a dozen cinnamon products that contain dangerous levels of lead. Their full list (which includes retailers and product images) can be found at the above FDA alert link.
This may not mean giving up cinnamon entirely. According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, there are some guidelines to keep in mind when shopping: for one, experts recommend that you “choose well-known brands that are transparent about food safety and testing.” Maybe also try adding whole cinnamon sticks to your grocery cart, as those “may be less likely to be contaminated.”
With traditional food quality standards under scrutiny related to topics like dyes and other ingredients, this week experts are advising that food isn’t the only source of high levels of ingestible lead. Also on September 12, the FDA issued a separate warning urging consumers to purge their kitchens of select imported cookware items made from aluminum, brass, and aluminum alloys, which were found to leach lead into food. The brands the FDA report names are Kadai/Karahi, Silver Horse, and JK Vallabhdas, reportedly sold through retailers in New York and Illinois.
Whether from food or household items, some experts note children are particularly at risk of lead poisoning due to their developing nervous systems and greater susceptibility to toxins. “Infants, young children and the developing fetus can be affected by chronic exposure to amounts of lead that may not result in obvious symptoms of lead poisoning,” the FDA warns. “A child with lead poisoning may not look or act sick. Lead poisoning in children can cause: learning disabilities, developmental delays, and lower IQ scores,” they add.
The Cleveland Clinic also states: “Children can have high levels of lead in their bodies even if they’re not showing any signs of the condition.” The Clinic also notes that lead poisoning symptoms in adults can include headaches, personality changes, abdominal pain, or loss of sex drive, among others.
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