In response to reports of children falling ill after consuming pouches of applesauce and apple puree, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is intensifying screening measures for imported cinnamon, suspecting it as a potential source of toxic lead contamination.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified a manufacturer in Ecuador as the likely source of elevated lead levels found in recalled pouches linked to illnesses in 34 children across 22 states
Despite not yet directly testing the cinnamon samples, import records reveal that WanaBana LLC in Florida received shipments of cinnamon apple fruit puree from the Ecuadorian manufacturer Austrofood. One pouch of the recalled WanaBana product obtained from a Dollar Tree store exhibited lead levels exceeding U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines by over 200 times. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emphasizes that there are no reports of illness or heightened lead levels associated with cinnamon products beyond the applesauce puree.
Children aged 1 to 3 are reported to have suffered illnesses linked to the contaminated pouches, with some displaying blood lead levels up to eight times higher than the CDC’s concern threshold
The recalled products, including WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree and Schnucks and Weis brand cinnamon applesauce, were sold through various outlets, including Dollar Tree and Amazon. Health officials advise testing lead levels in children who may have consumed these products, as lead exposure can lead to severe cognitive and behavioral issues. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues its scrutiny of cinnamon imports, underscoring the need for heightened consumer awareness regarding potential lead contamination in such products.