FDA: Lead contamination of applesauce pouches may have been intentional
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Key takeaways:
- Three brands of cinnamon applesauce pouches were recalled because of elevated levels of lead.
- The FDA continues to investigate the source of the elevated lead levels, which it said may have been intentional.
The FDA continues to investigate the cause of elevated levels of lead in packaged cinnamon applesauce pouches made by three brands sold in the United States, which may have been an intentional act of contamination, the agency said.
Cinnamon applesauce pouches from WanaBana, Weis Markets and Schnucks have been recalled and should be thrown out because of the risk of lead poisoning, the FDA said.
An FDA spokesperson confirmed in an email to Healio that the agency is exploring the potential that cinnamon in the products may have been contaminated as a result of economically motivated adulteration, which the FDA describes as “when someone intentionally leaves out, takes out, or substitutes a valuable ingredient or part of a food.”
“As this is an ongoing investigation, the FDA can only confirm this is one of the theories at this time,” the spokesperson said. “Additional investigation needs to occur before FDA reaches any conclusions. The FDA will continue to keep the public updated as the investigation unfolds.”
The spokesperson added that the FDA is continuing to coordinate with Ecuadorian authorities on the investigation of the source of elevated lead levels in the cinnamon apple pouches.
“In addition, the Ecuadorian authorities report that (supplier) Negasmart's cinnamon had higher levels of lead than allowed by Ecuador and that Negasmart ... is currently under an Ecuadorian administrative sanctions process to determine the responsible party for the contamination,” the spokesperson said.
“So far all of the signals we’re getting lead to an intentional act on the part of someone in the supply chain and we’re trying to sort of figure that out,” FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones told Politico, which first reported the story. “My instinct is they didn’t think this product was going to end up in a country with a robust regulatory process. They thought it was going to end up in places that did not have the ability to detect something like this.”
In a statement published Oct. 29, WanaBana announced it was voluntarily pulling WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Purée pouches because of reports of elevated levels of lead found in certain units of the product, and listed the affected batches. Schnucks did the same for its self-branded pouches in a statement published Nov. 3.
Healio has reached out to WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis for further comment.
References:
Brown M, Hill ML. Applesauce pouches may have been contaminated on purpose, FDA foods chief says. Politico. Dec. 14, 2023. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/14/applesauce-pouches-may-have-been-contaminated-on-purpose-fda-foods-chief-says-00131797. Accessed Dec. 19, 2023.
FDA. Economically motivated adulteration (food fraud). https://www.fda.gov/food/compliance-enforcement-food/economically-motivated-adulteration-food-fraud. Updated 1/31/2023. Accessed Dec. 19, 2023.
FDA. Investigation of elevated lead levels: Cinnamon applesauce pouches (November 2023). https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-elevated-lead-levels-cinnamon-applesauce-pouches-november-2023?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery. Accessed Dec. 19, 2023.
UPDATE: Schnuck Markets recalls select Schnucks-brand applesauce pouches. https://schnucks.com/news-releases/update-schnuck-markets-recalls-select-schnucks-brand-applesauce-pouches. Published Nov. 3, 2023. Accessed Dec. 19, 2023.
WanaBana issues voluntary recall of WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit purée pouches due to elevated lead levels. https://wanabana.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Press-Release.pdf. Published Oct. 29, 2023. Accessed Dec. 19, 2023.
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FDA. Investigation of elevated lead levels: Cinnamon applesauce pouches (November 2023). https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-elevated-lead-levels-cinnamon-applesauce-pouches-november-2023. Accessed Dec. 19, 2023.
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