Investigation of Elevated Lead Levels in Applesauce Pouches - Update Jan 16

United States

Updated Investigation can be seen here: iwaspoisoned.com/incident/updated-investigation-of-elevated-lead-and-chromium-levels-in-applesauce-pouches

The FDA and CDC published an update on the investigation of multiple brands of apple cinnamon fruit pouches due to Elevated Lead Levels.

The affected products are:
- WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches. They were sold nationally and are available through multiple retailers including Amazon, Dollar Tree, and other online outlets.
- Schnuck brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches and variety pack. They were sold at Schnucks and Eatwell Markets grocery stores.
- Weis brand cinnamon applesauce pouches (i.e., specific lots of UPC 041497216123). They were sold at Weis grocery stores.

As of January 16, 2024, The FDA has received 89 confirmed complaints/reports of adverse events potentially linked to the recalled products. individuals who have officially filed complaints or experienced adverse events that meet the FDA's criteria range in age from zero to 53 years, with a median age of one year old.

Further exploration of the situation reveals the extent of the outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with national health departments, have reported a total of 354 potential cases across 41 different states. These cases involve individuals who consumed the recalled product after November 2022 and had blood lead levels of 3.5 µg/dL or higher within three months. The CDC and FDA are utilizing different data sources in their reports, creating some discrepancies in the count of affected individuals.

The FDA's ongoing investigation is aimed at not only locating the exact point of contamination but also determining whether other products may be linked to the adverse health occurrences. In testing of the recalled products and the cinnamon from manufacturing facility Austrofoods, chromium has been discovered. The exact form of chromium remains undetermined, but the lead-to-chromium ratio is consistent with that of lead chromate.

Ingestion of Food contaminated with chromium (VI), a component of lead chromate, leads to abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, renal and hepatic dysfunction. Some people might not experience any symptoms. In any case, consumers who have consumed the recalled product and are experiencing any adverse health effects should inform their healthcare providers about their possible exposure to harmful levels of chromium and lead.

If you or your child are experiencing symptoms after eating this product it is important to report it. It can help to detect & resolve outbreaks early and prevent others from being harmed, and it enables better surveillance. If symptoms persist seek medical attention.

Source: www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-elevated-lead-chromium-levels-cinnamon-applesauce-pouches-november-2023