On the 5th of December, 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated the November 2023 recall and investigation of Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches due to elevated lead levels resulting in lead poisoning in young consumers.
The FDA listed the following items as having been recalled, noting that the full descriptions of recalled Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches could be found in their prior announcement. The subject product is the WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches including Schnucks-brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches and variety pack and Weis-brand cinnamon applesauce pouches. These products were sold nationally across various online stores and retailers, including Amazon, Dollar Tree, Schnucks, Eatwell Markets and Weis grocery stores.
The FDA has received at least 64 reports of illnesses after consumption of these products, affecting consumers all under the age of 6 years old. The FDA has initiated an on-site investigation at an Ecuadorian Austrofoods facility, while the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention is working collaboratively with local health department agencies here in the U.S..
As one National Food Poisoning lawyer at Ron Simon & Associates noted: “Consumption of lead can be hazardous for individuals of any age, but it is vital to note that exposure to lead is particularly dangerous for children, as their developmental process can be blunted by the presence of lead.” Ron Simon filed the nation’s first lead contaminated applesauce lawsuit and established a applesauce lead poisoning claim center.
Concerningly, the recalled Cinnamon Applesauce Pouch products are specifically marketed as a child’s snacks, with their ready-to-eat packaging making them a lunch or snack favorite. Customers who are in possession of the affected Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches are strongly encouraged to either discard the items or to return it to the location of purchase for a full refund; strictly avoiding consumption of the recalled applesauce product in imperative.
The United States Food and Drug Administration has also instructed customers to be aware that the affected Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches have a long shelf life, and may therefore easily be in many individual’s homes if they are unaware of the recall.
The United States Food and Drug Administration and Centers For Disease Control and Prevention continue to investigate this situation and work to accurately track the lead poisoning cases.
