LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – While there is an ongoing investigation, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services warned Michiganders about purchasing several brands of applesauce. 

What are the recalled brands?

The MDHHS warned against several recalled brands including WanaBana, Schnucks or Weis Cinnamon Apple puree pouches. 

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“Anyone that has consumed these produc ts should contact their health care provider to discuss blood lead testing,” MDHHS said in a Facebook Post. “Children, infants and fetuses are most at risk of health problems from lead.” 

What are the symptoms of lead toxicity?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also shared with the public some of the signs of lead toxicity. 

“Lead is toxic to humans and can affect people of any age or health status,” the FDA said in a statement. “Protecting children from exposure to lead is particularly important because they are more susceptible to lead toxicity.”

Most children have no obvious immediate symptoms according to the FDA. 

“Parents and caretakers should consult a healthcare provider if you suspect a child may have been exposed to lead,” the agency said in a statement. “Short term exposure to lead could result in the following symptoms: headache; abdominal pain/colic; vomiting; anemia. Longer term exposure could result in the following additional symptoms: irritability; lethargy; fatigue; muscle aches or muscle prickling/burning; constipation; difficulty concentrating/muscular weakness; tremor; weight loss.” 

FDA recommendations to consumers include: 

  • Consumers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled WanaBana, Schnucks, or Weis-brand apple cinnamon pouches and should discard them. 
  • These products have a long shelf life. Consumers should check their homes and discard these products. 
  • To properly discard the product, consumers and retailers should carefully open the pouch and empty the content into a trash can before discarding the packaging to prevent others from salvaging recalled product from the trash. Clean up any spills after discarding the product then wash your hands. 
  • Contact your healthcare provider if you think you can or your child may have symptoms of lead toxicity after eating recalled fruit pouches. 

What do preliminary content testing results reveal?

Besides the lead, the agency also found levels of Chromium which the agency has not been able to narrow down the type yet. 

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“FDA has determined that, in addition to lead, the cinnamon and recalled products also contained a high level of chromium,” the agency said. “The level of chromium detected in the two samples of cinnamon yielded 1201 and 531 parts per million (ppm). Because of the limited amount of cinnamon used in the finished product, the level of chromium detected in the reanalysis of FDA samples of the recalled WanaBana Cinnamon Apple Puree product yielded 0.590 and 0.566 ppm.”

As of Jan. 2, the FDA had not received any new complaints, but had more than 60 reports of adverse events potentially linked to recalled products submitted.