Federal health officials are warning parents and caregivers not to purchase bags of WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree or feed them to their children because the product may contain elevated levels of lead.
Children who have had gestational sacs should be taken to a health care provider for a blood test, the Food and Drug Administration said Saturday.
After four children in North Carolina were found to have elevated blood lead levels, an investigation by state health and consumer officials identified the bags as a “potential common source of exposure,” the FDA said. North Carolina health officials analyzed several samples of the fruit puree and found “extremely high levels of lead,” the agency added.
The FDA reviewed the results and said these lead levels “could lead to acute toxicity.”
The fruit puree pouches are sold nationwide and are available at several retailers including Sam’s Club, Amazon and Dollar Tree. WanaBana, based in Coral Gables, Florida, agreed to voluntarily recall all WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches, regardless of expiration date.
The company said in a statement released Sunday that it was working closely with the FDA to investigate the source of the contamination. “The company is committed to ensuring the safety of its products and the well-being of its consumers,” the statement said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children under 6 are most at risk for health problems from lead exposure.
Lead is toxic to people of all ages and health conditions, but it is more harmful to younger children because their bodies are still developing. According to the FDA, lead poisoning is often difficult to detect in children because they typically have no obvious or immediate symptoms
Lead toxicity can only be diagnosed through clinical testing, the agency said, and signs and symptoms vary depending on exposure. Short-term symptoms include headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and anemia. Long-term side effects may include irritability, lethargy, fatigue, constipation and difficulty concentrating.
According to the CDC, brain and nervous system damage, learning and behavioral problems, and hearing and speech difficulties can occur, especially in children