The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has updated a public health alert to include Wise Wife brand ground cinnamon from a New York distributor among 21 cinnamon products with elevated lead levels, bringing the total to 21.
What happened
The FDA's list of cinnamon products with dangerously high lead levels, originally published during an ongoing state testing campaign run through a cooperative agreement between federal food safety inspectors and six states, now includes 21 products in total. The update marks the third time in 2026 that the agency has issued a public health alert about ground cinnamon.
The newest addition is Wise Wife brand ground cinnamon distributed by SLR Food Distribution Inc. of Hicksville, New York. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station's Department of Analytical Chemistry collected samples of the product and found elevated levels of lead in its tests.
"The FDA is taking the additional step in issuing a third public health alert in 2026 for ground cinnamon to ensure the safety of ground cinnamon used in foods that are frequently consumed by babies and young children," the agency said in an official recall press release.
The product was sold at retail stores and grocery stores between September 8, 2025 and June 28, 2026.
What it means for Port Jefferson Station shoppers
The lead levels found in the recalled cinnamon ranged from 2.03 to 7.68 parts per million. According to the FDA's assessment, consuming food prepared with these products could contribute to elevated lead levels in consumers' bodies, particularly affecting babies, young children, and pregnant women.
The products on the list all show elevated levels that exceed what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers safe for consumer food products. Lead is a metal that your body absorbs easily, and once it gets in, it takes time to clear out. Even small amounts can affect learning, behavior, and overall health over long periods of exposure.
Short-term exposure to very low levels of lead may not cause any immediate symptoms, and no illnesses have been reported from this cinnamon so far. But lead is a cumulative toxin: it builds up in people's bodies over time and the health effects depend on how long someone was exposed, how much they consumed, and their age and body weight.
For babies, toddlers, and young children, the risks are particularly serious because lead can quietly damage a developing brain and nervous system. It affects brain development and behavior above a specific concentration in a child's body.
What to do now
If you purchased ground cinnamon at a local convenience store or grocery store in New York between September 8, 2025 and June 28, 2026, take these steps:
- Check your spice containers. Look for any Wise Wife brand products on your shelves. If you have one of these items, do not use the product until the recall is resolved.
- Do not consume the recalled product. If your cinnamon matches that description above, do not use it for cooking at home. The FDA advises consumers to throw it away or return it to the store where you bought it for a full refund.
- Consider switching spice brands. If you rely on ground cinnamon regularly in family meal prep — whether for baking, seasonal recipes, or everyday seasoning — check what other available brands are on your local grocer's shelves until this recall is resolved.
- Talk to your neighborhood store owner. Let them know about this FDA recall so they can issue refunds to customers and confirm whether their location carried any of the affected batches. You can also check our products page for safe alternatives, or visit us today to speak with the team directly.
The bottom line for Long Island families
This cinnamon was distributed across New York and several other states. The fact that SLR Food Distribution Inc., a Hicksville-based company, produced one of the affected products makes this directly relevant to Port Jefferson Station residents who may have purchased it locally.
Visit our what we carry page for a list of the spice and pantry staples we sell. No illnesses have been reported from ground cinnamon made with these specific lead-contaminated products so far. But the FDA warning is meant to remove these items from store shelves and home pantries before anyone gets sick, because lead damage does not show itself immediately — it builds silently over months or years of exposure.
Sources
- FDA Updates List of Cinnamon with High Lead Levels to Include 21st Product, Food Safety News, November 5, 2026
- Ground Cinnamon Recalled Ahead of Holiday Season Due to Elevated Lead Risk, FDA Says, KBTX News 3, October 30, 2026