A ground cinnamon recall is affecting 14 states after testing detected elevated lead levels in Wise Wife brand cinnamon, prompting its distributor to pull the product from the market. SLR Food Distribution Inc. of Hicksville, New York, announced the voluntary recall on October 29, 2026, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). No illnesses have been reported, but consumers are being warned not to eat the affected spice.
The problem was discovered after the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station collected and analyzed a cinnamon sample that contained elevated levels of lead. The FDA’s recall announcement does not disclose the exact concentration of lead or explain how the contamination occurred. However, the findings were serious enough to trigger a recall of the affected product.
The ground cinnamon recall involves Wise Wife Ground Cinnamon packaged in a 3.88-ounce (110-gram) clear plastic container with a black screw-top cap. The affected product has a best-before date of April 25, 2027, and UPC 0688474302754. It was distributed to grocery and retail stores between September 8, 2025, and June 28, 2026.
The 14 affected states are Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The company has instructed retailers to stop selling the cinnamon and remove affected products from shelves.
The biggest health concern surrounding the ground cinnamon recall is lead, a toxic heavy metal that can damage the brain, nervous system, and other organs. Unlike bacteria that cause food poisoning, lead exposure may not produce immediate symptoms. Someone could regularly consume contaminated cinnamon without realizing they are being exposed to a harmful substance.
Children face particularly serious risks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), no safe blood lead level has been identified for children. Exposure can interfere with brain development, reduce attention spans, cause learning difficulties, and contribute to behavioral problems. Prolonged exposure over weeks or months can potentially cause permanent neurological damage.
Adults are also vulnerable. Long-term lead exposure has been associated with high blood pressure, kidney problems, and difficulties involving memory and thinking. Lead can also cross the placenta during pregnancy, potentially affecting a developing baby’s brain and nervous system. The severity of these effects depends on how much lead enters the body and how long exposure continues.
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The ground cinnamon recall also raises questions about how lead enters everyday foods. The FDA explains that lead can enter the food supply through environmental contamination where ingredients are grown or processed. However, officials have not established the specific source of contamination in the recalled Wise Wife cinnamon.
This is not the company’s first warning involving cinnamon. On September 26, 2025, SLR Food Distribution recalled a different Wise Wife cinnamon product after FDA testing also detected elevated lead levels. That earlier recall involved 1.76-ounce containers distributed across seven states, including Florida and New York. The FDA has since listed that recall as terminated. The newly recalled product has a different package size and UPC.
Other cinnamon brands have faced similar concerns. In September 2026, Galil Importing Corp. recalled Lior ground cinnamon because of elevated lead levels. The FDA has also maintained public health alerts involving multiple cinnamon products since 2024, following earlier concerns about lead contamination in cinnamon-containing foods.
Meanwhile, the latest ground cinnamon recall joins several other food safety warnings issued this October.
On October 27, Taylor Farms recalled H-E-B Backyard BBQ Chop Salad kits because they could contain undeclared soy and almonds, creating a risk for people with allergies. That same day, Haifa Smoked Fish recalled cold-smoked sprats because of potential contamination involving bacteria capable of causing botulism, a potentially life-threatening illness.
Earlier, on October 17, Lidl announced a recall of Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato over possible Listeria contamination. The FDA also posted an October 22 recall involving WinCo Foods hoagie rolls containing undeclared sesame.
For consumers affected by the cinnamon warning, the FDA recommends immediately stopping use of the recalled product. Customers can discard it or return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.
Anyone concerned about possible exposure, particularly parents whose children regularly consumed the cinnamon, should contact a healthcare provider. A blood lead test can help determine whether exposure has occurred, even when no symptoms are present.