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Short answer: Stop using and discard any jar that matches one of the 12 products flagged in Consumer Reports’ 2024 testing. Separately, the FDA warned about specific lots from six other cinnamon brands; those jars require a product-and-lot-code check. The test list is historical product-level evidence, not proof that every current lot from a brand is contaminated.
What the 2024 Consumer Reports test found
Consumer Reports tested 36 cinnamon or cinnamon-containing products bought from 17 stores in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and online. Twelve products contained more than 1 part per million (ppm) of lead, the level Consumer Reports used to flag the samples. The individual concentrations for these 12 products were not published in the available summary.
A result applies to the tested product and lot, not automatically to every future batch. Consumer Reports food-safety research director James Rogers said, “If you have one of those products, we think you should throw it away.”
Products that exceeded 1 ppm in the Consumer Reports test
| Product | Finding | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Badia cinnamon powder | Above 1 ppm in Consumer Reports’ 2024 test; exact concentration not stated | Stop using the tested product and discard it |
| BaiLiFeng five spice powder | Above 1 ppm; exact concentration not stated | Stop using the tested product and discard it |
| Bowl & Basket ground cinnamon | Above 1 ppm; exact concentration not stated | Stop using the tested product and discard it |
| Deep cinnamon Powder | Above 1 ppm; exact concentration not stated | Stop using the tested product and discard it |
| EGN cinnamon powder | Above 1 ppm; exact concentration not stated | Stop using the tested product and discard it |
| Mimi’s Products ground cinnamon | Above 1 ppm; exact concentration not stated | Stop using the tested product and discard it |
| Paras cinnamon powder | Above 1 ppm; exact concentration not stated | Stop using the tested product and discard it |
| Rani Brand ground cinnamon | Above 1 ppm; exact concentration not stated | Stop using the tested product and discard it |
| Spicy King five spices powder | Above 1 ppm; exact concentration not stated | Stop using the tested product and discard it |
| Three Rivers cinnamon stick powder | Above 1 ppm; exact concentration not stated | Stop using the tested product and discard it |
| Yu Yee Brand five spice powder | Above 1 ppm; exact concentration not stated | Stop using the tested product and discard it |
| Zara Foods cinnamon powder | Above 1 ppm; exact concentration not stated | Stop using the tested product and discard it |
The stores and online sellers used for each individual product were not identified in the available summary, so a retailer name alone cannot confirm whether a jar is one of the tested samples.
#1 Best Overall
- Premium Quality Pure Ceylon Cinnamon Powder – USDA Organic certified, Ceylon cinnamon with rich aroma and authentic taste. Suitable for vegan diets, made with no added sugar, no preservatives, and no artificial ingredients. Securely ceylon cinnamon packed in craft paper bags for lasting freshness.
- No need to scruple about gluten, or allergens: All of true organic’s products including organic ceylon cinnamon powder come into no contact with gluten, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, or gmos. Your true organic ceylon cinnamon spice/ bulk ground cinnamon powder is packaged from a USDA certified organic farm in Sri Lanka.
- Our pure ceylon cinnamon organic powder is grown only in sri lanka (Ceylon) region, our farmers nurture, harvest, and package all our organic ceylon cinnamon powder by hand.
- We take great pride in being able to support and foster not only the farmers who produce our ceylon cinnamon powder organic spice but also their families and local communities. We hope that through true organic’s products including organic ceylon cinnamon powder bulk/ ground cinnamon, our farmers and their families continue to benefit.
- USDA organic and FSSC 22000 certified our ceylon cinnamon powder organic/ ground cinnamon. Our one pound bulk organic ceylon cinnamon powder, organic cinnamon powder will make more delicious recipes and meals.
FDA alert: six brands require a lot-code check
On March 6, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported lead levels from 2.03 to 3.4 ppm in selected ground-cinnamon products distributed through discount and specialty retailers. The FDA’s action was lot-specific. Match both the brand and the lot or best-by code to the FDA alert before deciding that a jar is affected; the exact codes are not included in the summary here.
Brands named in the FDA alert
| Brand | Measured range | FDA instruction |
|---|---|---|
| La Fiesta | Within the 2.03–3.4 ppm range found in the targeted survey | Stop using, discard and do not buy a matching lot |
| Marcum | Within the 2.03–3.4 ppm range | Stop using, discard and do not buy a matching lot |
| MTCI | Within the 2.03–3.4 ppm range | Stop using, discard and do not buy a matching lot |
| SWAD | Within the 2.03–3.4 ppm range | Stop using, discard and do not buy a matching lot |
| Supreme Tradition | Within the 2.03–3.4 ppm range | Stop using, discard and do not buy a matching lot |
| El Chilar | Within the 2.03–3.4 ppm range | Stop using, discard and do not buy a matching lot |
The FDA said the levels in some ground cinnamon products were too high and that growers, manufacturers, importers and retailers share responsibility for food safety. A brand’s absence from this alert does not establish that every lot is lead-free.
Rank #2
- 2.08 ounces; Glass bottle
- Ceylon cinnamon is buff-colored and mild in flavor, compared to the more intense cassia cinnamon
- Certfied Organic; Kosher
- Simply Organic is proud to be a 2019 Whole Planet Foundation $100,000 Fund Member donating f unds to support microentrepr eneurs, pr imarily women, internat iona lly and domes tic ally to al leviate global poverty.
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What to do if you have a listed jar
- Read the label. Record the brand, product name, lot number and best-by date.
- Check the applicable warning. For one of the 12 Consumer Reports products, treat the tested product as a stop-use warning. For an FDA-listed brand, compare the lot or best-by code with the FDA’s March 6, 2024 notice.
- Keep it out of circulation. Do not cook with it, serve it, sell it or donate it. Place the matching product in the trash according to local disposal rules.
- Ask a clinician about possible exposure. Lead exposure often has no obvious immediate symptoms. A healthcare professional can decide whether a blood-lead test or other follow-up is appropriate, particularly for someone who consumed the product repeatedly or is especially vulnerable to lead’s effects.
Do not try to make the spice safe by heating it, mixing it with another spice or using less of it. Those steps do not remove lead.
Replacement products reported as lower-risk
CBS News reported that Consumer Reports classified the following six products as good options in the same testing period:
Rank #3
- Micro Ingredients offers organic Ceylon cinnamon powder made from true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), known for its smooth, subtly sweet flavor compared to stronger cinnamon varieties.
- Each pouch provides 8 oz of cinnamon powder with a 2 g scoop per serving, offering 113 servings for everyday recipes and drinks.
- A versatile kitchen staple with a warm, balanced flavor that blends easily into coffee, tea, oatmeal, smoothies, and baked goods.
- Made with organic Ceylon cinnamon powder and nothing else, this single-ingredient formula keeps your recipes simple without unnecessary extras.
- Non-GMO and manufactured in a cGMP-compliant facility. Third-party lab tested for quality and consistency. Free of soy, dairy, gluten, and tree nuts.
| Product | How to interpret the result |
|---|---|
| 365 Whole Foods Market Ground Cinnamon | Classified as a good option in the 2024 Consumer Reports test |
| 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Ground Cinnamon | Classified as a good option in the 2024 test |
| Loisa Organic Cinnamon | Classified as a good option in the 2024 test |
| Morton & Bassett San Francisco Organic Ground Cinnamon | Classified as a good option in the 2024 test |
| Sadaf Cinnamon Powder | Classified as a good option in the 2024 test |
| Sadaf Seven Spice Blend | Classified as a good option in the 2024 test |
These are historical test results, not a lifetime safety guarantee. Before buying, check current FDA recalls and the lot or best-by information on the package. Organic labeling, a higher price or a familiar retailer does not by itself prove a product is free of lead.
Do not confuse the cinnamon alerts with the applesauce-pouch outbreak
The FDA’s 2024 cinnamon warning followed a separate 2023 recall of WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis applesauce and fruit-purée products. Cinnamon associated with those pouches contained 2,270 to 5,110 ppm lead—far above the 2.03 to 3.4 ppm found in the targeted ground-cinnamon survey.
Rank #4
- Cinnamon is a spice that is made from the inner bark of trees scientifically known as Cinnamomum.It has been used as an ingredient throughout history, dating back as far as Ancient Egypt. It used to be rare and valuable and was regarded as a gift fit for kings.
- There are two main types of cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon: Also known as "true" cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon: The more common variety today and what people generally refer to as "cinnamon."
- Cinnamon is made by cutting the stems of cinnamon trees. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts removed.When it dries, it forms strips that curl into rolls, called cinnamon sticks. These sticks can be ground to form cinnamon powder.
- Cinnamon is a popular spice. These days, cinnamon is cheap, available in every supermarket and found as an ingredient in various foods and recipes.
- Cinnamon is loaded with powerful antioxidants, such as polyphenols. In a study that compared the antioxidant activity of 26 spices, cinnamon wound up as the clear winner, even outranking "superfoods" like garlic and oregano. In fact, it is so powerful that cinnamon can be used as a natural food preservative.
As of February 23, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case counts summarized by the FDA were 111 confirmed, 320 probable and 37 suspected cases, 468 total from 44 states. Those figures concern the recalled applesauce-pouch investigation, not the 12 Consumer Reports cinnamon products. The FDA reported no indication that the applesauce issue extended beyond the recalled products and no confirmed reports of illnesses or elevated blood-lead events tied to other cinnamon products at the cited update.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why even relatively small amounts matter
Lead can accumulate in the body and remain there for years. Rogers said that even small amounts pose a risk over time and can seriously harm health. Because contamination is not reliably detectable by sight, smell or taste, the practical protection is to follow product- and lot-specific alerts rather than trying to judge a jar at home.
Best Value
- Ceylon Cinnamon Organic (Cinnamomum Verum) - 7oz/200g Resealable Bag of Ceylon Cinnamon Organic Ground Powder. Organic Cinnamon Powder Ceylon has a Milder Taste and Aroma than Cassia Cinnamon.
- Certified Pure Ceylon Cinnamon - Ground Ceylon Cinnamon imported from Sri Lanka. Look for the “Pure Ceylon Cinnamon” logo in our products. Cinnamon from Ceylon are Fair-Trade and Sourced ethically.
- Delicious, Versatile & Healthy – Mild in flavor and void of harmful chemicals, Ceylon cinnamon can be paired with food or hot drinks. Ceylon cinnamon is a healthier option than Cassia due to low coumarin and loaded with powerful antioxidants.
- Certified Organic & Fair Trade – Certified Organic by the USDA and Fair Trade Practice organizations.
- Easy Returns & Refunds – 100% satisfaction guarantee. If for some reason, you’re not happy with our product simply call customer service for a hassle free refund from Amazon.
The 2024 findings do not mean every cinnamon brand is contaminated, nor do they certify that a currently sold lot is safe. They identify products and lots that consumers should remove from use while regulators and manufacturers address the underlying supply-chain controls.
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