Venzu Traders cinnamon powder added to FDA alert over elevated lead levels

SILVER SPRING, MD (November 2025) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Venzu Traders cinnamon (dalchini) powder has been added to its public health alert due to elevated levels of lead, a toxic heavy metal that can cause serious health effects, particularly in young children and pregnant individuals.

According to the FDA, the agency collected samples of the product at a retail establishment and tested it for lead levels, confirming the presence of dangerous amounts of the contaminant. The agency confirmed that lead exposure can cause learning disabilities, developmental delays, and lower IQ scores in children, and may not produce obvious symptoms even while causing harm.

Venzu Traders cinnamon alert: quick summary

The FDA has updated its ongoing public health alert to include Venzu Traders cinnamon (dalchini) powder as the 19th cinnamon product found to contain elevated levels of lead. The agency began monitoring cinnamon products in March 2024 following an outbreak that affected more than 400 children who consumed WanaBana cinnamon applesauce products containing excessive lead levels in fall 2023. The FDA collected samples of Venzu Traders cinnamon at retail locations and laboratory testing confirmed dangerous lead contamination. Consumers who have purchased this product should stop using it immediately and dispose of it. The FDA continues to work with state partners to test cinnamon products sold at retail and at import points to prevent unsafe products from reaching consumers. No specific illnesses have been linked to Venzu Traders cinnamon at this time, but the agency warns that lead poisoning in children often shows no obvious symptoms.

What happened?

The FDA said it added Venzu Traders cinnamon (dalchini) powder to its public health alert after the agency collected samples of the product at a retail establishment and tested it for lead levels. The testing confirmed the presence of elevated lead levels that pose health risks to consumers, particularly children and pregnant individuals.

The recall alert was announced in November 2025 as part of the FDA’s ongoing monitoring program for cinnamon products. The agency began its targeted assessment of ground cinnamon products in March 2024 following a serious outbreak in fall 2023 when more than 400 children were confirmed with adverse effects from elevated lead levels after eating WanaBana cinnamon applesauce products.

According to the FDA public health alert, “Lead is a toxic substance present in our environment in small amounts and everyone is exposed to some lead from daily actions such as inhaling dust, eating food, or drinking water.” The agency emphasized the particular danger to young children, stating that “infants, young children and the developing fetus can be affected by chronic exposure to amounts of lead that may not result in obvious symptoms of lead poisoning.”

The FDA has been working with multiple states including Arkansas, California, Maryland, Missouri, Connecticut, and Virginia through the Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM) to collect and test ground cinnamon samples. New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets also provided samples collected outside the LFFM program. This cooperative testing program helps investigate, monitor, and remove adulterated foods from commerce.

Venzu Traders cinnamon is now the 19th cinnamon product included on the FDA’s public alert list. The agency continues to test cinnamon at import points and retail locations to prevent unsafe products from reaching consumers.

Affected products

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Best by date	Issue	Distribution
Venzu Traders	Cinnamon (dalchini) powder	Not specified	Not listed	Not listed	Elevated lead levels	Retail establishments (states not specified)

What caused the issue?

According to the FDA notice, the contamination was discovered through the agency’s ongoing testing program for cinnamon products. Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can contaminate food products through various pathways, including contaminated soil where crops are grown, processing equipment, or intentional adulteration during manufacturing.

The agency confirmed that lead can affect nearly every bodily system, with effects depending on the amount and duration of exposure and the age of the person exposed. Young children and developing fetuses are particularly vulnerable because lead can cause permanent developmental damage even at levels that do not produce obvious symptoms.

Symptoms of lead poisoning can include abdominal pain, vomiting, lethargy, irritability, weakness, behavior or mood changes, delirium, seizures, and coma. However, the FDA warns that “a child with lead poisoning may not look or act sick.” Lead poisoning in children can cause learning disabilities, developmental delays, and lower IQ scores, with effects that may not become apparent until later in childhood.

Pregnant individuals are also at high risk, as lead can cross the placenta and affect fetal development. The FDA emphasizes that there is no safe level of lead exposure for children.

No illnesses have been specifically reported in connection with Venzu Traders cinnamon, but the agency notes that lead exposure often goes undetected without blood testing.

Questions you might have

1. What should I do if my child already consumed this cinnamon? Contact your pediatrician and request a blood lead level test. Even if your child appears healthy, lead exposure can cause harm without obvious symptoms.

2. How can I identify if I have the recalled product? Check your pantry for any cinnamon products labeled as Venzu Traders cinnamon or dalchini powder. The FDA has not provided specific package details, so any Venzu Traders cinnamon should be considered affected.

3. What are the symptoms of lead exposure in children? Children may show no symptoms at all, or may experience abdominal pain, vomiting, irritability, learning difficulties, developmental delays, or behavior changes. Blood testing is required to diagnose lead poisoning.

4. Is all cinnamon unsafe? No. The FDA alert currently lists 19 specific cinnamon products that tested positive for elevated lead levels. However, consumers should purchase cinnamon from reputable brands that conduct testing.

5. How did lead get into the cinnamon? Lead contamination can occur through contaminated soil, processing equipment, or intentional adulteration. The FDA continues to investigate the sources of contamination.

6. Can adults be harmed by lead in cinnamon? Yes, though children are most vulnerable. Adults can experience abdominal pain, high blood pressure, joint pain, memory problems, and reproductive issues from lead exposure.

7. Should I have my child tested for lead? If your child has consumed any product on the FDA alert list, consult your pediatrician about blood lead testing, even if your child appears healthy.

8. Where was this cinnamon sold? The FDA collected samples at retail establishments but has not specified which stores or states. Consumers nationwide should check their cinnamon products.

9. Are there other cinnamon products on the alert list? Yes, 18 other cinnamon products are currently listed on the FDA public health alert. Check the FDA website for the complete list.

10. How can I find safe cinnamon? Purchase cinnamon from established brands that provide testing certificates and avoid products without clear labeling or from unknown manufacturers.

Here’s what you should do

Do not consume Venzu Traders cinnamon (dalchini) powder.

What to do immediately:

• Remove Venzu Traders cinnamon from your pantry and dispose of it safely
• Check the FDA website for the complete list of 19 affected cinnamon products
• If you or your children have consumed this product, contact your healthcare provider about blood lead testing
• Do not use the product in cooking or baking
• Wash any containers or utensils that came into contact with the contaminated cinnamon
• Report any adverse health effects to the FDA MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting system

Questions? Consumers can visit the FDA website for the complete list of affected cinnamon products or report health concerns through the FDA MedWatch system at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Behind the brand

Information about Venzu Traders was not provided in the FDA alert. The company appears to distribute cinnamon products marketed as dalchini powder, a term commonly used for cinnamon in South Asian communities.

The FDA alert states that the agency collected and tested samples from retail establishments, confirming elevated lead levels. The FDA continues to work with states to test cinnamon sold directly to consumers at retail and to test cinnamon at import points. The agency will continue its activities at import to prevent unsafe cinnamon from reaching consumers in the United States, including adding firms and products to the cinnamon import alert where appropriate.

Source86 reached out to Venzu Traders for comment on the lead contamination and what corrective actions are being taken, but has not yet received a response.

Other relevant recalls

The Venzu Traders cinnamon alert is part of a concerning pattern of lead contamination in imported cinnamon products. In October 2025, Homeneeds Inc. recalled Devi brand Ground Cinnamon (Dalchini Powder) after FDA testing detected elevated lead levels in 100-gram packets sold at Apna Bazar stores in Washington. Similar incidents have involved lead contamination in cinnamon products distributed by Haitai, Durra, SLR Food Distribution, and other brands, underscoring the persistent challenges of ensuring quality control across complex global supply chains. These recurring recalls demonstrate the critical need for rigorous testing protocols and supplier accountability in the spice import industry.

Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, said:

“Food safety is not just about compliance; it is about protecting the most vulnerable consumers, especially children. Every contamination incident reminds us how vital it is to maintain transparency, rigorous testing protocols, and supplier accountability. In the spice import category, where products often pass through multiple countries and intermediaries, prevention through testing is everything.”

Ensuring safe eats

This FDA alert highlights the ongoing challenge of lead contamination in imported spice products, particularly cinnamon. Since the WanaBana applesauce outbreak in fall 2023 that affected more than 400 children, the FDA has identified 19 cinnamon products with dangerous lead levels, demonstrating that contamination remains a persistent problem in the spice supply chain. Food importers and manufacturers must implement comprehensive heavy metal testing programs for all spice products, particularly those sourced from regions with known contamination risks.

For consumers who have purchased Venzu Traders cinnamon or any of the other 18 products on the FDA alert list, the guidance is clear: dispose of the product immediately and do not consume it. Parents should contact their pediatricians about blood lead testing if their children have consumed contaminated cinnamon products, even if the children appear healthy. Lead exposure in children can cause irreversible developmental harm without producing obvious symptoms.

The FDA has reminded cinnamon manufacturers, processors, distributors, and facility operators of their responsibility to implement controls to prevent contamination from chemical hazards, including heavy metals. Companies importing or selling spice products must conduct testing of final products and maintain records for FDA inspection. The agency is seeking legislative authority to expressly require industry testing of products marketed to infants and young children.

Editor’s Note

At Source86, we help food importers and spice manufacturers implement comprehensive heavy metal testing programs and supply chain verification systems specifically designed for high-risk imported ingredients. Our approach includes rigorous testing protocols for lead, chromium, and other contaminants, supplier qualification programs, and full traceability systems that help companies prevent contaminated products from reaching consumers. Contact us!