"Cinnamon, the star of pillowy cinnamon rolls and anything apple-based, seems like an innocent spice, but it can potentially be lethal. It has a distinct bold flavor that's both hard to explain and to replicate, but there's one ingredient that has nothing to do with taste - lead. Apparently some ground cinnamon products in the U.S. have been found to contain the heavy metal."
"The discovery started with apple sauce in 2023 when hundreds of lead poisoning cases were reported, linking back to Schnucks, Weis, and WanaBana pureed apple pouches. After extensive testing, the Food and Drug Administration identified cinnamon as the culprit, as it introduced dangerous amounts of heavy metals. In the spring of 2024, the FDA informed the public of the lead-laced cinnamon products, continuously adding brands to its "do not buy" list."
"Being a naturally occurring metal, lead can sneak into a variety of crops, whether through soil, water, or grinding equipment. Construction sites and mining regions are likely sources of lead contamination, as the toxin can migrate into nearby waters that feed the evergreen cinnamon trees, ultimately seeping into the bark. If it hasn't ended up in cinnamon from environmental sources, lead could be intentionally added to cinnamon."
Cinnamon has been linked to dangerous levels of lead after hundreds of lead poisoning cases emerged from apple sauce in 2023 tied to Schnucks, Weis, and WanaBana pureed apple pouches. FDA testing identified cinnamon as introducing heavy metals, prompting a 2024 public warning and an expanding 'do not buy' list as CDC recorded over 500 confirmed or probable cases. Lead can enter cinnamon through contaminated soil, water, or grinding equipment, especially near construction or mining sites where runoff reaches trees and bark. Lead may also be intentionally added via lead-based dyes used to make spices appear more vibrant.
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