FDA is providing additional context about the amount of lead in testing results from cinnamon used as an ingredient in the recalled applesauce pouches and in testing results of the recalled pouches. As of December 26, the agency has received 82 confirmed complaints/reports of adverse events potentially linked to recalled product, up from 69 complaints as of December 19. Those impacted are between zero and 53 years of age.
In an interview published on December 14 in Politico, Jim Jones, FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, said the agency is still investigating the lead-tainted cinnamon applesauce pouches, but adds that, “so far all of the signals we’re getting lead to an intentional act on the part of someone in the supply chain and we’re trying to sort of figure that out.” The agency’s investigation into how the lead was added is ongoing, and it has not given a conclusion as of December 28.
FDA tested samples of the cinnamon collected from the Austrofoods manufacturing facility in Ecuador and used in the recalled applesauce pouches. The highest result was 5,110 parts per million (ppm), which was more than 2,000 times the level of 2.5 ppm being considered for bark spices.
In addition, the testing results previously reported for the sample of recalled WanaBana cinnamon apple puree pouch collected from Dollar Tree had a lead concentration of 2.18 ppm which, for context, is more than 200 times greater than the action level of 0.01 ppm that the FDA has proposed in draft guidance for fruit purees and similar products intended for babies and young children.
FDA and state partners have tested at least 136 samples of non-cinnamon containing products and all have been negative for elevated lead levels. Of those, 11 are the Smoothie Mango Passionfruit Banana flavor of WanaBana purees, three of these samples are of the same lot that ARCSA originally reported as positive for lead, and FDA results were negative for elevated lead for all samples. In addition, FDA collected a sample of WanaBana Organic Mango Puree at import and sample results are negative for elevated levels of lead.
The CDC is working in collaboration with state and local health department to investigate the situation as well. CDC’s case definition for state partners includes a blood lead level of 3.5 µg/dL or higher measured within 3 months after consuming a recalled WanaBana, Schnucks, or Weis brand fruit puree product after November 2022. As of December 22, CDC has received reports of 73 confirmed cases, 157 probable cases, and 21 suspected cases for a total of 251 cases from 34 different states through their reporting structure. CDC and FDA have different data sources, so the counts reported by each agency will not directly correspond.
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