Connecticut regulators have prompted a voluntary multistate recall of Wise Wife Brand Ground Cinnamon after state testing detected elevated levels of lead. The affected spice was sold in 14 states, and officials say consumers should stop using it. No illnesses have been reported so far.
How the contamination was found
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection's Food and Standards team collected samples of the product as part of the FDA Laboratory Flexible Funding Model sampling program, a cooperative effort that supports routine food surveillance across the national food safety system. The samples were sent to the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station, where laboratory analysis identified high lead levels. Following those results, SLR Food Distribution Inc., of Hicksville, New York, voluntarily recalled the product.
How to identify the recalled product
The recalled item is Wise Wife Ground Cinnamon in a 3.88-ounce clear plastic bottle with a black screw-top cap. The best-before date is 4/25/2027. The product was distributed in Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin between September 8, 2025, and June 28, 2026.
What shoppers should do
Consumers who have this product at home should not eat it. They can throw it away or return it to the store where it was bought for a refund. Questions about the recall can be sent by email to [email protected], and more details are available on the FDA's website.
Why lead exposure matters
How lead affects a person depends on age, body weight, and how much lead is consumed and over what period. Brief exposure to low levels may cause no noticeable symptoms. Chronic or high-level exposure, however, may cause nausea, vomiting, headache, muscle weakness and confusion. Anyone concerned about symptoms after using the product should consult a health care provider.