This image provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2023, shows three recalled applesauce products – WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, Schnucks-brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches and variety pack, and (FDA)
The FDA first issued an alert about the issue in late October regarding WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches over concerns of elevated levels of lead. Soon after, Schnucks and Weis cinnamon applesauce pouches were also added to a recall.Â
To date, the agency has received 65 reports of illnesses potentially linked to the recalled pouches and all are under 6 years old, according to its most recent notice.
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Schnucks-brand applesauce pouches are only sold at Schnucks and Eatwell Markets grocery stores. Weis-branded pouches are only sold at Weis grocery stores, the FDA said.
The impacted pouches, sold online and in stores, have all been linked to a manufacturing facility in Ecuador – which the FDA said it’s investigating.
The FDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Jones told Politico that it’s investigating a number of theories about how the pouches became contaminated with high levels of lead. The FDA currently believes the adulteration was “economically motivated,” according to Politico. That can mean food ingredients being altered in order to make it appear better or of greater value, according to the agency’s website.
The reported symptoms included headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a change in activity level and anemia.
Despite existing food safety laws, Jones said intentional contamination “is always going to be tricky to absolutely stop, if somebody has intent to purposefully do something like this.”
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