A quiet staple in sweet rolls and savory stews just got a hard pause. Families are being asked to scan labels before the next dessert because tests flagged elevated lead in select products. The FDA expanded an existing action to cover more items, so treating cinnamon carelessly now carries real risk. Officials cite shelf-stable jars sitting in pantries, and they want them gone fast. Clear steps can help households sort safe stock from suspect containers without panic.
What the expanded recall covers now
The FDA first flagged the issue in July 2024 and widened it this month. Four more brands—HAETAE, Roshni, Durra, and Wise Wife—joined a dozen others now considered unsafe to eat. That brings the total to 16. Officials advise households not to sell, serve, or share any affected products.
Spice keeps well, so the agency urges a careful pantry sweep. Look for brand names, batch details, and store names tied to the alerts. If exposure is possible, contact your clinician. Many people show no immediate symptoms. This matters because a small habit with cinnamon can add up over time.
As of September, the agency had no reported illnesses. Most companies agreed to voluntary recalls after FDA recommendations. Investigators have not yet reached Haitai Inc., maker of the HAETAE brand. Officials continue sampling and coordination with states. If testing finds more unsafe items, they will update the public health alert quickly.
Cinnamon safety and how lead shows up
Lead exists in Earth’s crust, yet it harms the body even at low levels. It can affect the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver, with children and people who may become pregnant at higher risk. The metal stores in bones and teeth, then lingers. That persistence explains why prevention is critical.
Blood tests assess exposure. Regulators do not approve lead as a food or color additive. The spice findings ranged from 2.03 to 7.68 parts per million. For context, bottled water must stay below 5 parts per billion—thousands of times lower than these results. The contrast shows how small units still matter.
During pregnancy, bone can release stored lead back into blood. That pathway exposes a fetus when development is most vulnerable. The World Health Organization attributed more than 1.5 million deaths in 2021 to lead, mostly from cardiovascular effects. Safer kitchens start with labels, lots, and one more check of cinnamon jars.
How to check your pantry and act fast
Start with brand, package size, and any printed lot or UPC codes. Compare those details to the FDA lists and store notices. Confirm where you bought the item and when. A quick note on your phone helps, since overlapping brands appear in different states and retailers.
If your container matches, seal it and throw it away. Clean any measuring spoons or lids that touched the product. Do not bake with it, do not resell it, and do not give it away. Pantry safety also means storing the spice sealed, dry, and away from heat or sunlight.
Call your healthcare provider if you suspect exposure. Clinicians can order a blood test and guide next steps. Most people feel fine, which is why testing matters. Keep receipts or screenshots of online orders for refunds. Safer swaps exist, yet verify new jars before using cinnamon again.
Brands and stores named in the cinnamon alert
The list spans 16 names:
- HAETAE,
- Roshni,
- Wise Wife,
- La Frontera,
- Durra in California and Michigan,
- El Chilar sold at El Torito Market,
- Marcum at Save-A-Lot Food Stores and SWAD at Patel Brothers.
- Supreme Tradition appears at Dollar Tree locations and multiple states.
- Compania Indillor Orientale
- ALB Flavor at Eurogrocery,
- Shahzada shows at Premium Supermarket,
- Spice Class appears at Fish World,
- Jiva Organics is linked to Taj Supermarket in California
- Super Brand shows at Asian Supermarket in Little Rock,
- Arkansas,
- Asli appears at A&Y Global Market in Columbia, Missouri.
Officials recommend discarding any suspect package. The agency requested voluntary recalls across the list while outreach continues. Affected supplies may sit in homes for months, so the fastest fix is removal. Keep photos of labels before disposal to help stores process refunds, and limit cinnamon use until replacement jars are verified.
Lot codes, dates, and UPCs to confirm at home
Key identifiers include Jiva Organics lot AF-CINP/822, best before July 2025. Super Brand powder was sold at Asian Supermarket, Little Rock, AR. Asli shows lot DDDLUS at A&Y Global, Columbia, MO. El Chilar at El Torito Market, Maryland, lists lots D181EX0624 and E054EX0225 on recalled stock.
Marcum and Supreme Tradition at Save-A-Lot in Missouri and Virginia note best-by 12/5/25. SWAD at Patel Brothers lists batch KX28223, best-before October 2026. Supreme Tradition at Dollar Tree in California shows lot 10A11, best by 10/6/2025. Compania Indillor Orientale lists lot L1803231, and ALB Flavor lists lot LA02, best-before 3/8/2025.
Shahzada appears at Premium Supermarket in New York. La Frontera shows at Frutas Y Abarrotes Mexico in New York. Roshni lists UPC 6251136 034139, best by 2/9/2025. HAETAE shows the same UPC and date. Durra lists UPC 6251136 034139, best by May 2026, distributed 8/24/2024–10/6/2025. Wise Wife lists UPC 0 688474 302853, distributed 2/15/2024–6/28/2025. Check cinnamon labels carefully.
What smart shoppers should do before their next baking day
Protect your kitchen by treating this recall as a standing task. Verify jars now, then set a reminder to recheck after future shopping trips. The FDA reported no illnesses as of September, yet prevention still matters. Replace suspect cinnamon with verified stock, and keep receipts, lot photos, and dates for easy refunds.