The Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that a number of manufacturers of applesauce that had been not too long ago recalled over excessive lead content material might have been deliberately contaminated.
WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis-brand apple cinnamon pouches, manufactured by Ecuador-based Austrofood, had been all recalled in November after being linked to over 200 studies of lead poisoning in kids.
Recalled WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Puree is STILL ON SHELVES at a number of @DollarTree shops in a number of states. FDA continues working with the agency to make sure an efficient recall. Shoppers ought to NOT eat this product because it might be contaminated with lead. https://t.co/1oiuPouhNh pic.twitter.com/blfQFwovqU
— FDA FOOD (Ctr for Meals Security & Utilized Vitamin) (@FDAfood) December 1, 2023
“The FDA can verify that one of many theories the company is exploring concerning the excessive lead ranges within the recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches is the potential that the cinnamon contamination occurred as a attainable results of economically motivated adulteration,” an FDA spokesperson advised FOX Business stated in an announcement.
The spokesperson added that the company remains to be wanting into the matter and “extra investigation must happen earlier than FDA reaches any conclusions.”
On December 19, the FDA up to date its advisory: “As of December 19, 2023, FDA has obtained 69 complaints/studies of opposed occasions doubtlessly linked to recalled product. To this point, confirmed complainants, or individuals for whom a criticism or opposed occasion was submitted, are underneath 6 years of age.”
The CDC has obtained over 200 studies of instances from state and native well being departments nationwide.
On December 18, the FDA had introduced its onsite inspection of the Austrofoods facility in Ecuador had ended.
“Nonetheless, the FDA investigation of the elevated lead ranges in recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches continues,” the FDA stated. “Through the inspection, investigators collected samples of cinnamon provided by Negasmart to Austrofoods. These samples have undergone evaluation and outcomes present extraordinarily excessive ranges of lead contamination, 5110 elements per million (ppm) and 2270 ppm.”
The Fox Enterprise report provides:
For context, the FDA stated the Codex Alimentarius Fee — a global meals requirements physique established collectively by the Meals and Agriculture Group and the World Well being Group — is contemplating adopting a most degree of two.5 ppm for lead in bark spices, together with cinnamon, in 2024.
The FDA stated it’s “counting on officers in Ecuador to assist the investigation into Negasmart.”
Nonetheless, the company has confirmed that the corporate doesn’t ship product on to the U.S. Solely Austrofoods, considered one of Negasmart’s direct clients, ships product to the U.S.