FDA
The FDA warns parents not to purchase and feed WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree Pouches to their children.
CNN –
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning parents against buying one brand of fruit puree pouches for their children after the snacks were found to contain high levels of lead, the agency said.
Lead was found in WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches sold at several retailers nationwide, including Sam’s Club, Amazon and Dollar Tree, the FDA said.
“Parents and caregivers of infants and young children who may have consumed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree sachets should contact their child’s health care provider regarding a blood test,” the FDA said.
Lead is toxic to humans and exposure to the substance can cause developmental delays in children. Symptoms of lead exposure include headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, anemia, muscle pain, irritability and fatigue, the agency said.
The problem came to light when North Carolina state health officials began studying four children with elevated blood lead levels and determined that the WanaBana bags could be the most common source of exposure, the FDA said.
Chitose Suzuki/AP/File
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Several batches of WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree were analyzed and North Carolina officials found “extremely high levels of lead,” the FDA said.
The company has agreed to voluntarily recall all WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, regardless of expiration date, the FDA added.
“If you have WanaBana brand apple cinnamon puree products at home, do not eat them or feed them to your children. Discard products immediately,” the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said.
CNN has reached out to WanaBana for comment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to lead can seriously harm a child’s health, causing damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, and learning, hearing, speech and behavioral problems.
“Even low blood lead levels have been shown to negatively impact a child’s intelligence, attention skills, and academic performance,” the CDC said.
According to the CDC, lead can be found throughout a child’s environment, including in homes built before lead paint was banned in 1978. The metal may also be found in some toys and jewelry.
How a child’s body handles lead exposure depends on age, length of exposure and other factors, the CDC says. A blood lead test is the best way to assess a child’s lead exposure, the center adds.
“The FDA continues to work with state officials and the company, gathering additional information and taking steps to remove all contaminated products from the market,” the agency added.