A ground cinnamon sold in stores in six states for nearly 10 months is being recalled after Maryland state testing found elevated levels of lead. Galil Importing Corp. of Hauppauge, New York, is recalling Lior Cinnamon Ground Seasoning, according to the company announcement posted by the FDA on Sept. 24. The product was distributed to retail stores, grocery stores, delis, and supermarkets in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, and Illinois between Nov. 18, 2025, and Sept. 7, 2026.
No illnesses have been reported. The concern is quiet, repeated exposure, since ground cinnamon keeps for months and a container bought last winter may still be going into a child's oatmeal or toast today. Young children face the greatest risk because their developing brains are most sensitive to lead.
A State Lab Caught the Problem Before Any Illness Was Reported
The recalled product comes in a 90-gram clear plastic container with UPC 794711005484 and lot code GAP11304. The lot code is printed on the side of the container, under the ingredient list. The recall followed a sample collected and analyzed by the Maryland Department of Health that showed elevated lead, according to the company.
The announcement does not say how much lead was found. Galil said it immediately started a voluntary recall and told customers to stop distributing and selling the product and to hold any remaining stock. The company also said it has begun a supplier investigation and added enhanced testing and supplier checks to prevent a repeat.
Maryland has been part of the FDA's earlier cinnamon investigations. Its samples were among those behind the agency's March 2024 alert on lead in ground cinnamon, which followed the 2023 recall of lead-tainted cinnamon applesauce pouches. A later FDA alert added more ground cinnamon brands, and many of those products also have a long shelf life. Lior is not named in either alert.
In the 2024 alert, the FDA noted that while the ground cinnamon products "may not be a food targeted to young children, cinnamon is used in many foods young children consume." That is the practical concern for families. A spice sprinkled on cereal, applesauce, pancakes, or baked goods several times a week can add up over months, even when each serving seems small.
Children Under 6 Carry the Greatest Risk From Repeated Exposure
The company notice says short exposures to very low levels of lead may cause no symptoms, and a raised blood lead level may be the only sign. If a child is exposed to enough lead over weeks to months, "permanent damage to the central nervous system may occur," the notice states. That damage can lead to learning disorders, developmental defects, and other long-term health problems.
The CDC says no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in the blood are linked with developmental delays, difficulty learning, and behavior problems. Children younger than 6 are more likely to be exposed because of hand-to-mouth habits, and the CDC estimates about 500,000 U.S. children have blood lead levels at or above its reference value of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter.
Lead exposure from food usually builds slowly, which is why a lack of symptoms does not rule it out. Adults can also be affected over time, but households with toddlers and preschoolers have the most reason to act now. The greatest concern is for families who used the cinnamon often, such as in a child's breakfast most mornings, rather than once or twice. Parents who are unsure how often a child ate it can raise that with a pediatrician, who can decide whether testing makes sense.
Next Steps for Families Checking Their Pantries
Consumers should not eat the product and should throw it away or return it to the store for a refund. Questions can go to Galil Importing Corp. at 1-516-496-7400, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. Throwing out every cinnamon in the house is unnecessary, but it is worth checking other brands against the FDA's cinnamon alerts and its list of current recalls.
The FDA's cinnamon alerts advise consumers to check their homes because these products "have a long shelf life."Shoppers who still see the recalled Lior product on a store shelf can alert the store manager.
Parents whose children ate the recalled cinnamon regularly can ask a pediatrician about a blood lead test, which the CDC calls the best way to find out if a child has lead poisoning. Children enrolled in Medicaid are required to be tested at 12 and 24 months of age, and between 24 and 72 months if they have never been tested. Parents concerned about possible symptoms of lead exposure should contact a health care provider, and any child who has a seizure needs emergency care.
Neither Galil nor the FDA has said whether other lots or products are involved, and the lead levels found have not been released. For now, the simplest protective step is a quick check of the spice cabinet for the Lior label and lot GAP11304.
Key Questions Answered
Which cinnamon is recalled?
Lior Cinnamon Ground Seasoning in a 90-gram clear plastic container, UPC 794711005484, lot code GAP11304. It was distributed between Nov. 18, 2025, and Sept. 7, 2026.
Where was it sold?
In retail stores, grocery stores, delis, and supermarkets in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, and Illinois.
Has anyone gotten sick?
No illnesses had been reported as of the Sept. 24 announcement. Lead exposure often causes no obvious early symptoms, so a lack of illness reports does not rule out exposure.
Why are children at greater risk?
The CDC says no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Young children are more likely to be exposed, and repeated exposure can cause lasting learning and behavior problems.
What should I do if my child ate it?
Stop using the product and talk with a pediatrician about whether a blood lead test is needed. Contact a health care provider about any symptoms, and seek emergency care for a seizure.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
