Utah officials say no sign of applesauce lead poisoning in state
Dec 19, 2023, 3:00 PM | Updated: Jan 4, 2024, 2:09 pm
Images of recalled cinnamon apple puree and applesauce products, some of which may have been poisoned by lead. (FDA)
(FDA)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed that, as of Tuesday, there have been no cases of lead poisoning in Utah related to an applesauce recall.
The Centers for Disease Control said it has received 205 reports of kids getting sick in connection with the WanaBana, Weis and Schnucks cinnamon applesauce pouches. All of the kids affected by the lead poisoning are under 6 years old.
The FDA has investigated a facility linked to recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches for kids. In their investigation, they found lead levels 2,00 times higher than the standard.
The agency thought it was the cinnamon, specifically, in the cinnamon applesauce pouches that was contaminated. Results from a manufacturing facility in Ecuador confirmed that.
On its website, the CDC asked people not to eat any recalled apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches and to call a healthcare provider if a person may have eaten the recalled apple sauce.
Where are the origins of applesauce lead poisoning?
One FDA source told Politico earlier this week that it’s possible someone in the supply chain intentionally added the lead.
Lead contamination in applesauce pouches may have been ‘intentional act’
No matter the source, a parent whose 1-year-old was poisoned by lead told NBC News they’d like more accountability.
“I’d like to see a more rigorous testing. So things like this don’t happen in the future. It’s something that could have been so easily avoidable.”
What does lead poisoning look like?
According to the CDC, symptoms of high levels of lead poisoning may include abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, anemia, weakness and fatigue.
Severe neurological symptoms can appear as seizures, encephalopathy and even a coma.
Also noted on the CDC website is how low lead poisoning does not always show up through apparent acute symptoms.
Low levels of lead have been shown to affect children through learning and behavioral problems, hearing and speech problems and slowed growth and development.
