SLR Food Distribution Inc., based in Hicksville, New York, announced on Thursday the voluntary recall of Wise Wife brand ground cinnamon due to the potential presence of elevated lead levels, according to a notice published the same day by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The affected product is a transparent plastic container of 110 g with a black lid, UPC code 0688474302754 — printed on the back label — and a best before date of April 25, 2027.
The recall was initiated following an analysis of a sample by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, a state laboratory that detected elevated levels of heavy metal in the product.
The company clarified that the withdrawal is voluntary and that, up until the date of the announcement, no illnesses related to the consumption of this batch had been reported.
Cinnamon was distributed in retail stores and supermarkets in 14 states between September 8, 2025, and June 28, 2026: Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The FDA warns that lead can affect nearly all systems in the body, and its effects depend on the amount ingested, the duration of exposure, the age, and the body weight of each individual.
The risk is particularly severe for young children: according to the warning, if a child is exposed to the metal for weeks or months, they may suffer permanent damage to the central nervous system, resulting in consequences such as learning disorders and developmental defects.
In adults, a brief exposure to very low levels may not produce visible symptoms; the only indication might be an increase in blood lead levels detected through clinical testing.
The FDA and the company recommend that anyone who has this product at home should not consume it, and should either dispose of it or return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.
This recall comes just a month after the same brand faced a different public health alert: in September 2026, the FDA had already warned about another batch of Wise Wife cinnamon —with a different UPC, 0688474302853— which contained 2.49 parts per million of lead and had been distributed in New Jersey, New York, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Ohio between February 2024 and June 2025.
The issue of cinnamon contaminated with lead has serious precedents in the United States. In 2023, the recall of cinnamon apple purée from the brands WanaBana, Weis, and Schnucks—linked to cinnamon with concentrations of up to 5,110 parts per million of the metal—affected more than 500 children in the country, prompting the FDA to intensify its monitoring of this type of product.
Consumers with questions can contact SLR Food Distribution Inc. at 1-516-437-3782, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, or email slrusaorder@gmail.com.
"Consumers should not use the recalled product and should dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund," states the FDA notice.
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