Wise Wife Cinnamon Lead Recall (October 2026): What Parents of Toddlers Should Do
A ground cinnamon sold in 14 states was recalled on October 29, 2026 for elevated lead. How to check your jar, what it means if your toddler ate it, and when to ask about a blood lead test.
What parents should know
- Check the back label: UPC 0688474302754 and Best Before 4/25/2027 on a 3.88 oz (110 g) jar.
- States: CT, IN, KS, MA, MI, MN, NC, NE, NY, OH, PA, TX, VA and WI, sold September 2025 to June 2026.
- Don't taste-test it, cook with it or give it away. Discard it or return it for a full refund.
- This is the second Wise Wife cinnamon lead recall in about 13 months; a smaller 1.76 oz jar was recalled in September 2025.
- CDC: no safe blood lead level in children has been identified, and most exposed kids look completely well.
- A one-off sprinkle is very different from daily use for months. Tell your pediatrician how often your child ate it.
Is your jar the recalled one?
Pull the cinnamon out of the cupboard and look at the back label. The recall covers one product, identified in the FDA-posted notice as follows. If any detail doesn't match, compare it with the September 2025 recall in the second row, because cinnamon has a long shelf life and older jars may still be in kitchens.
- The 2026 problem was found when the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station tested a sample. The 2025 problem was found by FDA testing.
- Neither notice states how much lead was found, so we can't tell you the concentration. Treat the product as unsafe regardless.
- Questions go to SLR Food Distribution at 1-516-437-3782 (weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET), per the notice.
| Recall | Package | UPC | Date code | Where and when it was sold | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 29, 2026 | 110 g (3.88 oz) clear plastic container, black screw-top cap | 0688474302754 | Best Before 4/25/2027 | Retail and grocery stores in CT, IN, KS, MA, MI, MN, NC, NE, NY, OH, PA, TX, VA, WI; September 8, 2025 to June 28, 2026 | Active |
| September 26, 2025 | 1.76 oz (50 g) clear plastic jar, black lid | 0 688474 302853 | Not listed | Retailers in NJ, NY, FL, MD, MN, OK, OH; February 15, 2024 to June 28, 2025 | Completed; FDA has terminated this recall |
Why a spice recall is a toddler issue
Cinnamon isn't a baby food, but it ends up in a lot of things little kids eat: oatmeal, applesauce, baked goods, French toast, yogurt and homemade purees. The FDA made exactly this point in its March 2024 cinnamon alert, noting that "cinnamon is used in many foods young children consume."
That alert followed the October 2023 recall of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce pouches linked to lead poisoning in children. The FDA said the cinnamon used in those pouches contained 2,270 to 5,110 parts per million (ppm) of lead. In its follow-up survey of ground cinnamon from discount stores, it then recommended recalls of six more brands with lead levels of 2.03 to 3.4 ppm. In other words, the pouch case was extreme, but lower-level contamination of ordinary jars has kept turning up.
Young children are more vulnerable than adults. The FDA explains that their smaller bodies, rapid growth and metabolism make them especially sensitive, and that high exposure in infancy and early childhood can cause learning disabilities, behavior difficulties and lower IQ. The AAP adds that toddlers absorb more of what they swallow and constantly put hands and objects in their mouths (HealthyChildren.org).
My toddler already ate it. Now what?
First, don't panic. The recall notice says short-term exposure to very low levels of lead may cause no symptoms, and that harm depends on how much lead, for how long, and the child's age and body weight. It specifically warns that exposure over weeks to months can permanently damage a child's nervous system. A sprinkle on pancakes once is not the same situation as cinnamon oatmeal every morning since last fall.
Second, you can't tell by looking. CDC says most children with lead in their blood have no obvious immediate symptoms (CDC testing guidance). When symptoms do appear, the AAP lists stomach pain, headaches, vomiting and weakness, and notes that learning and behavior effects may only show up in the preschool years or later.
What to tell your pediatrician
- Roughly how often your child ate food made with this cinnamon, and for how many weeks or months.
- Your child's age, and whether they've had a lead test before (many kids are screened around 12 and 24 months).
- Any other possible lead sources: a home built before 1978, peeling paint, renovation dust, imported spices, candies or remedies, or an adult with a lead-related job or hobby.
How the blood lead test works
A small sample is taken from a finger, heel or arm. A finger-prick test is fast but can read falsely high if lead on the skin gets into the sample, so CDC recommends confirming a raised result with a blood draw from a vein. CDC's blood lead reference value is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL); a child at or above it is in the top 2.5% of U.S. children ages 1 to 5. CDC is clear that this is not a "safe" line: no safe level has been identified (CDC).
Children enrolled in Medicaid are required to be tested at 12 and 24 months, and between 24 and 72 months if they've never been tested. Many private insurers also cover testing, per CDC.
Cutting lead exposure from food at home
- Rotate foods. The FDA advises eating a variety of foods across all five food groups so no single contaminated item is eaten over and over.
- Feed iron and calcium. The AAP says a diet rich in calcium and iron helps a child absorb less lead. See our iron-rich foods for toddlers.
- Go easy on spices for little ones. Small amounts are fine for most babies once solids are going well; our guide to introducing spices covers timing. There's no nutritional need for cinnamon in a toddler's diet.
- Use cold tap water for drinking, cooking and mixing formula, and consider an NSF-certified filter if you have older plumbing (AAP).
- Wash hands before meals. Lead dust from paint and soil is still the most common source; our hand-washing guide for toddlers makes it a habit.
- Check recalls periodically. FDA lists food recalls at fda.gov/recalls; for toys and gear, see our October 29, 2026 kids' product recall roundup.
When to call the doctor
Frequently asked questions
Which Wise Wife cinnamon is recalled?
Wise Wife Brand Ground Cinnamon in a 110 g (3.88 oz) clear plastic container with a black screw-top cap, UPC 0688474302754, Best Before 4/25/2027, sold in 14 states between September 8, 2025 and June 28, 2026.
Why was Wise Wife cinnamon recalled?
A sample tested by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station showed elevated levels of lead. The notice does not state the amount. No illnesses had been reported.
What should I do with the recalled cinnamon?
Don't eat it. Throw it away or return it to the store where you bought it for a full refund.
Should my toddler get a lead test after eating it?
Ask your pediatrician, especially if your child ate food made with it often over weeks or months. CDC says a blood test is the only way to know whether a child has been exposed, because most children have no obvious symptoms.
Has Wise Wife cinnamon been recalled before?
Yes. In September 2025, a 1.76 oz (50 g) Wise Wife cinnamon jar (UPC 0 688474 302853) was recalled for elevated lead after FDA testing. That recall has since been completed and terminated.
Keep reading
Sources
This guide was checked against the current guidance below. Medical and safety recommendations can change; use the linked source and your child's clinician for decisions specific to your family.
- FDA: SLR Food Distribution Inc. Recalls Wise Wife Brand Ground Cinnamon Due to Elevated Lead Levels (Oct 29, 2026)
- FDA: SLR Food Distribution Recalls Wise Wife Brand Ground Cinnamon (Sept 26, 2025, terminated)
- FDA: Alert Concerning Certain Cinnamon Products Due to Elevated Levels of Lead (Mar 6, 2024)
- FDA: Closer to Zero, reducing childhood exposure to heavy metals in foods
- CDC: Testing for Lead Poisoning in Children
- CDC: Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning
- AAP HealthyChildren.org: Lead Exposure, Steps to Protect Your Family