FDA Update on the WanaBana Applesauce Lead and Chromium Announcement: Lead Poisoning Lawsuit Claims Extremely High Levels of Lead in Cinnamon
There are now a total of 90 Adverse Event Reports in the FDA database, and 468 likely cases (101 confirmed and 320 probable) in the CDC database, which likely represent only a portion of the actual number of victims. Only those cases in which the two federal agencies have received information are included in the FDA and CDC numbers.
To constitute a “confirmed case” in the CDC’s database, a victims must have had a blood lead level of 3.5 ug/dL or higher, measured within 3 months of consuming the implicated WanaBana, Schnucks, or Weis brand Cinnamon Applesauce, beginning in November of 2022.
The median age of victims is one year-old, but there have been some adult victims, including at least one aged 53. The onsets of elevated lead readings in the FDA subset of cases is between October 17, 2023 and January 16, 2024. According to the CDC, victims have presented in at least 44 of the 50 states, including AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, and WV.
Analysis has determined high elevation in both lead chromium in the suspect, recalled product. The product is off the shelves at present, but may still be in patrons cupboards.
In papers dealing with the lead lawsuit litigation, national lead poisoning lawyer Ron Simon has asserted that laboratory analyses were carried out by Seidlaboratory Cía. Ltda. on the following batches:
- Existing batches of ground cinnamon in Austrofood’s possession, purchased on October 13 and 25, 2023, signed with the numbers CNP.01.018 131023 and CNP.01.018 251023, respectively.
- New batches of ground cinnamon purchased from Negasmart on October 30, 2023, signed with the number CNP.01.018 301023.
- Counter-samples of the finished applesauce and cinnamon products that were marketed to the United States, subject to the FDA alert, marked with lot numbers 11022:15, 11022:16, 04023:23, and 10023:08.
- Counter-samples of final apple products that are marketed in Ecuador, numbered 10023:07, 10023:04 and 10023:06, in order to verify if there was any type of cross contamination.
The results of Seidlaboratory’s independent testing found the lead levels far higher than the declaration of <0.02 ppm. In reality, the lead levels in the two implicated batches were actually 2319 ppm and 3958 ppm. Also of import, according to Lead poisoning attorney Simon, Seidlaboratory testing on other Austrofood products that did not contain cinnamon showed no excessive lead levels.
According to a recent article in Politico, the FDA and “the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have collaborated with state and local health authorities as well as Ecuadorian authorities to trace the origin of the cinnamon in the applesauce pouches, which is believed to be the source of the lead contamination.”
