High Blood Lead Levels in Children Consuming Recalled Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches

Details

• Description:
  Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network
  
  November 13, 2023, 2:00 PM ET
  
  CDCHAN-00500
  
  Multiple states have reported potential cases to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of high blood lead levels (BLLs) in children consuming recalled cinnamon-containing applesauce products that have high levels of lead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to advise clinicians and health departments to consider the possibility of illness due to lead exposure and report cases to their local health authorities.
  
  FDA, CDC, and state and local partners are investigating a potential link between high BLLs and consuming certain cinnamon-containing apple purée and applesauce products.
  
  State partners tested multiple lots of the reported products, and test results indicated the products contained extremely high levels of lead. WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis have initiated voluntary recalls of certain lots of the following products:
  
  • WanaBana brand apple cinnamon fruit purée pouches
  
  • Schnucks brand cinnamon applesauce pouches
  
  • Weis brand cinnamon applesauce pouches
  
  More information about the specific recalled products may be found on the FDA’s website: Investigation of Elevated Lead Levels: Applesauce Pouches (November 2023).
  
  As of November 7, 2023, there are 22 cases, in states including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, ages 1 to 3 years, with BLLs ranging from 4 to 29 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL). Cases experienced signs and symptoms including headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, change in activity level, and anemia.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Child Food Lead/blood Lead Poisoning/diagnosis Product Recalls And Withdrawals
• Source:
  HAN ; 500
• Series:
  Health Alert Network
• Document Type:
  HAN Health Advisory
• Place as Subject:
  Alabama ; Arkansas ; Louisiana ; Maryland ; Missouri ; New Mexico ; New York ; North Carolina ; Ohio ; Pennsylvania ; South Carolina ; Tennessee ; Texas ; Washington
• Issue:
  500
• Collection(s):
  Health Alert Network (HAN)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d57b4a36d03eb9e755faebdd828b447739a6359500c6640c8fc5f2cbde80c36bcba26613983743bb8e76c91543e8e77b4e4cb1cd1413ee668c88e9d74dcf4782
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/135320/cdc_135320_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 171.52 KB ]