On October 17, 2025, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) updated its public-health alert to include the ground cinnamon product Haetae (HT) Brand Cinnamon Powder (8 oz) distributed by Haitai, Inc. of Cerritos, California. The reason: elevated levels of lead detected in product samples.
What is affected.
- Product: Haetae (HT) Brand Cinnamon Powder, 8 oz, UPC 0 20914 81415 9.
- “Best by” date: 02/09/25.
- Reason: potential contamination with lead; the recall was initiated after the FDA collected samples at retail and detected elevated lead levels.
- Scope: It was distributed to various supermarkets nationwide in the U.S. (exact retailers not fully detailed in the recall notice).
- Reported adverse events: None reported so far in connection to this particular product.
Health / safety implications.
The hazard here is chemical contamination (lead) rather than a microbial or allergen issue. According to the FDA alert, consuming these cinnamon products with elevated lead “could contribute to elevated levels of lead in the blood.” The risk is greater for children, infants, and pregnant people, because lead is known to cause irreversible neurological damage, lowered IQ, behavioural problems, developmental delays, hearing problems, and other serious outcomes when exposure occurs early in life. For adults, chronic lead exposure can lead to high blood pressure, kidney dysfunction, and neurocognitive effects. Importantly, the FDA emphasizes that there is no known safe level of lead exposure in children.
Why this is significant.
Spices such as cinnamon are often assumed safe, long-shelf-life food items—so contamination with a heavy metal like lead underscores lesser-recognized food-safety hazards. Lead can enter spices in several ways: contaminated soil, ingestion of lead during crop growth, improper processing or storage, adulteration (sometimes intentional) of raw materials, or contamination in packaging or transport. The FDA’s earlier investigation into contaminated applesauce pouches traced the root cause to cinnamon with extremely high lead levels—more than 2,000 times higher than permissible in some cases. The current alert shows this issue is ongoing and expanding.
What consumers should do.
- If you have the Haetae brand cinnamon (Best by 02/09/25) in your household, do not use it. The FDA recommends discarding or returning it.
- Since ground cinnamon has a long shelf life, check your pantry for this product (and other brands listed in the broader recall/alert) and dispose of any affected items.
- If there is concern about lead exposure — especially in children or exposed individuals — consult a healthcare provider. Elevated blood lead levels may not produce obvious symptoms initially.
- Diversify food sources. The FDA recommends eating a variety of foods to avoid repeated exposure from a single source, and to maintain adequate nutrition (which can help mitigate some effects of lead exposure).
Broader food-safety lessons.
- Hazard types: While much food-safety focus is on pathogens (Salmonella, Listeria, etc.) or undeclared allergens, chemical hazards like heavy metals remain critical. They can accumulate over time and affect vulnerable populations.
- Traceability & testing: Producers and importers must ensure raw materials and finished goods are tested for contaminants. The FDA is stepping up its testing and sampling of spices and imports.
- Transparent communication: Public-health alerts and recalls are essential in preventing exposure; consumers must be made aware quickly of what to look for and what action to take.
- Vulnerable groups: Special attention must be paid to children, infants, pregnant persons—food-safety programs must consider lifelong impacts of early exposures.
In summary: The recall of the Haetae (HT) brand cinnamon powder for elevated lead is a serious chemical-contamination event that goes beyond the typical microbial risks. The FDA’s alert serves as a reminder that common pantry staples can pose unexpected hazards, and that consumers and producers alike should remain vigilant.
