Bottles of cinnamon have been urgently recalled due to containing dangerous levels of toxic metals.
New York-based SLR Food Distribution is recalling its Wise Wife brand cinnamon after FDA officials found it contained elevated levels of lead, a heavy metal linked to reproductive issues, cancer and autism in high amounts.
The products were distributed to unspecified retailers in New Jersey, New York, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Ohio between February 15, 2024, and June 28, 2025.
They can be identified as the ‘Wise Wife’ brand sold in 1.76-ounce clear plastic jars with black lids. The UPC 0 688474 302853 is printed on the back label.
No illnesses have been reported, but the FDA warned even small amounts of lead could lead to abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea and fatigue.
And as lead accumulates in the blood and vital organs through prolonged exposure, it can cause lasting developmental disorders and certain forms of cancer.
A growing body of research also has linked prolonged lead exposure to autism, which is on the rise in the US, leading health authorities like Robert F Kennedy Jr to link the ‘epidemic’ to environmental contaminants.
The FDA warning comes just after a new study touted cinnamon as a cheap tool for protecting against dementia, as it may reduce inflammation in the brain and prevent toxic plaques from killing off brain cells.
The FDA has recalled a cheap spice over containing toxic metals (stock image)
Pictured above is a bottle of the recalled Wise Wife brand cinnamon. The product was taken off shelves after FDA investigators found elevated levels of lead
The FDA urged consumers who may have purchased the products to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The agency said: ‘If a child is exposed to enough lead for a protracted period of time (e.g., weeks to months) permanent damage to the central nervous system may occur.
‘This can result in learning disorders, developmental defects, and other long-term health problems.
‘For adults, chronic lead exposure is associated with kidney dysfunction, hypertension, and neurocognitive effects.’
A 2024 investigation from Consumer Reports found at least a dozen tested cinnamon products contained traces of lead, some of which had levels so high that just one quarter of a teaspoon was enough to cause lead poisoning in children.
It’s unclear exactly how lead makes its way into so many products, though there are several theories.
The metal is naturally present in the Earth’s crust, so it could be present in soil where spices are grown. The FDA also previously theorized metals may be added to the spices for financial gain, as it increases their weight and helps them sell at a higher price.
It is also sometimes used to make spices appear brighter in color and more attractive to consumers.
The recall comes after a new study linked cinnamon to an decreased risk of developing dementia (stock image)
There is no safe level of lead consumption, according to the FDA and CDC.
Once consumed, lead can travel throughout the entire body via the blood and take up camp in soft tissues like the kidney, liver or lungs, damaging those organs.
In higher doses, or with frequent exposure, it has been linked to behavioral issues, growth problems and learning difficulties in children.
Additionally, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified it as a probable carcinogen, meaning that high exposure is likely to cause cancer.
However, there is no conclusive evidence yet.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .