The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a concerning alert following reports of lead-contaminated fruit pouches affecting 52 children across 22 states, NBC News reports.
The affected children, aged between 1 to 4 years old, have shown elevated levels of lead after reportedly consuming certain apple puree pouches, prompting an urgent investigation by health authorities.
FDA Recalls Fruit Pouch Brands Positive with Lead
The recall involves products marketed under three brands: WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree, Schnucks, and Weis cinnamon applesauce pouches.
These items were distributed through national grocery chains like Dollar Tree and online platforms, including Amazon.
The FDA has emphasized the critical nature of the situation, urging consumers not to purchase or consume these recalled products. Parents have been advised to dispose of these pouches immediately, discarding both the contents and the packaging.
Lead exposure in children can lead to severe health implications, including serious learning and behavior problems. According to experts, there is no safe level of lead exposure, and heavy metals like lead can find their way into food products through various means, such as soil, air, water, or industrial processes.
FDA, CDC Continue Investigations
The investigation, led jointly by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), initially identified cinnamon imported from a manufacturer in Ecuador as the probable source of the lead contamination.
While the FDA screens cinnamon imports from multiple countries for toxic lead contamination, it is important to note that there have been no reports of illness or elevated blood lead levels associated with cinnamon products other than the applesauce puree.
Children affected by the contaminated pouches exhibited symptoms including headache, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and anemia. However, it is essential to recognize that some children may display no immediate symptoms despite elevated lead levels.
Health officials have stressed the significance of testing children who might have consumed the recalled products for lead levels. Lead toxicity, especially in children, targets the central nervous system and can result in long-term cognitive and behavioral deficits.
The FDA, CDC, and state partners are actively investigating the link between elevated blood lead levels and the consumption of these cinnamon-containing apple puree and applesauce products.
Authorities are urging clinicians and health departments to consider the possibility of lead exposure-related illness and report any suspected cases to local health authorities.
Take Note
To ensure proper product disposal, the FDA advises consumers and retailers to cautiously open the pouch, pour its contents into a trash can, and then discard the packaging. This helps prevent others from retrieving recalled items from the trash.
Additionally, remember to clean up any spills resulting from discarding the product and wash your hands afterward.
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