The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to parents and caregivers urging them not to buy or give children WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches due to elevated levels of lead in the product. The FDA's attention was drawn to this issue when health officials in North Carolina discovered elevated blood lead levels in four children and identified the WanaBana apple cinnamon pouches as a potential common source of exposure. Subsequent analysis by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) found "extremely high concentrations of lead" in multiple lots of the product.

The FDA has reviewed and supported the NCDHHS's findings, stating that such high levels of lead could result in acute toxicity. As a result, WanaBana has agreed to voluntarily recall all apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, regardless of their expiration dates. These pouches were sold at various retailers, including Sam's Club, Amazon, and Dollar Tree.

The FDA has emphasized the importance of parents and caregivers of toddlers and young children who may have consumed the WanaBana apple cinnamon pouches to contact their child's healthcare provider for a blood test. Lead exposure in children can have serious consequences, impacting their intelligence, attention span, and academic achievement.

Lead toxicity can be challenging to detect, as symptoms may not always be obvious. Short-term exposure symptoms can include headaches, abdominal pain, and vomiting, while long-term exposure symptoms may encompass fatigue, irritability, constipation, muscle aches, and a sensation of prickling or burning, among others. The CDC reiterates that lead exposure can only be accurately diagnosed through a blood sample.

The CDC emphasizes that no safe blood lead level has been identified in children, as even low levels can have detrimental effects on their health and development. The agency states that lead exposure occurs through contact with or ingestion of lead or lead dust. The consequences of lead exposure can include damage to the brain and nervous system, impaired growth and development, as well as learning, hearing, speech, and behavioral problems.

The FDA is working closely with state officials and WanaBana to gather more information and remove all contaminated products from the market. The recall alert urges parents and caregivers to dispose of any WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches they may have in their homes.

Lead exposure remains a significant concern for children, even though lead-based paints were banned in 1978, and leaded gasoline has been phased out worldwide. Lead can still be found in pipes across the country, with over 9 million lead pipes supplying drinking water in the U.S. Additionally, approximately 31 million homes in the U.S. still have hazardous lead-based paint on their walls.

To combat lead exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has lowered its lead dust hazard level to zero this year, aiming to completely eliminate lead exposure. It is crucial to address lead exposure promptly and take appropriate measures to protect the health and wellbeing of children.