Is your cinnamon safe?

[karadekoolaid]

I have this inkling that cassia can be toxic in some way

Many spices have toxic compounds in them. Cloves and allspice contain eugenol, nutmeg and mace contain myristicin; cinnamon and tonka beans contain coumarin.Fennel contains estragole. Japanese star anise contains some nasty neurotoxins and ajwain contains thymol. Some beans (broad beans, kidney beans) contain high concentrations of phytohaemagglutinin.
It is the responsibility of entities like the FDA to point out possible medical issues with foodstuffs, because that's what they're there for. Unfortunately, the internet, mainly through misinformed bloggers and, unfortunately, people who are easily panicked, often contributes to exaggerated claims of poisoning. I don't know how many times I've read, on sites like Reddit, that a poster is in a state of panic and anxiety because the FDA says nutmeg can give you a high, and they only boiled their kidney beans for 2½ hours.
Spices have been consumed by billions of people for thousands of years and I think the most important thing is that, when using spices, we don't go over the top. Not, I might say, because we'll potentially get poisoned, but principally because the food will taste terrible.

 

[Z-Cook]

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an urgent alert after finding elevated lead levels in 16 ground cinnamon brands sold across the country.

The agency warns that long-term exposure to these products could be harmful to your health.

Source: Is Your Cinnamon Safe? FDA Flags 16 Brands for Elevated Lead Levels

I've been reading about this for some time and have yet to hear about the source/s of the lead contamination.

 

[Gone Hiking]

I hardly ever use cinnamon, so I'm not worried

Ditto. Given my rate of cinnamon consumption, it could probably be made of lead and not do any harm. Good to know, though, all the same.

 

[SoCalZone10]

I throw them in my garden to keep the ants away. I too don’t eat a lot of cinnamon, but my daughter does, so I bought her a special jar for her coffee. According to Consumer Reports, Sadaf has .04 ppm, close to the lowest.

 

[karadekoolaid]

I cook Indian food, and very frequently, so I use a load of cinnamon in the sauces.
I may have poisoned a load of people, but they haven't told me yet.

 

[TastyReuben]

I use a lot of cinnamon in desserts and breakfast things.