Several brands of cinnamon apple sauce pouches — typically served to children — have been recalled by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to potential lead contamination.
The FDA has officially recalled:
- WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree Pouches
- Schnucks-Brand Cinnamon-Flavored Applesauce Pouches and Variety Pack
- Weis-Brand Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches
WanaBana pouches are available through multiple retailers, including Amazon, Dollar Tree, and other online outlets.
Schnucks-brand pouches may have been purchased at Schnucks or Eatwell Markets grocery stores.
Weis-brand pouches are found at Weis grocery stores.
If anyone currently has any of these applesauce pouches in their pantry, the FDA directs that they be discarded immediately.
According to the FDA, children often do not have “obvious immediate symptoms of lead exposure,” so parents who suspect their children may have been exposed should consult their healthcare provider about getting a blood test.
As of November 16, there were 34 reported illnesses potentially linked to the recalled products.
The FDA tested a sample of WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Puree collected from the Dollar Tree and found levels of lead more than 200-times higher than the actionable threshold proposed by the FDA for products geared toward babies and young children.
The current working theory being posited by the FDA as to the source of the contamination is the cinnamon, however this has not yet been definitively determined.
None of the 34 reported illnesses have occurred in Maine. One did, however, occur in New Hampshire.
Click Here to Read the FDA’s Full Press Release Concerning the Recall