Lead-Contaminated Fruit Pouches Cause Poisoning in U.S. Children

FDA Suggests Contamination Could Be Intentional; Affected Children Face Long-Term Health Risks

Lead-contaminated fruit pouches have caused lead poisoning in dozens of children across the U.S., with the exact number of affected children unclear.
The pouches were sold under three brands — WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis — and were produced at a plant in Ecuador.
Tests show victims had blood lead readings up to eight times higher than the federal reference level of concern, and samples of the puree showed lead contamination more than 200 times higher than the FDA allows.
FDA officials have raised the prospect that the contamination was intentional, possibly to boost the value of the cinnamon used in the pouches.
Affected children will likely need years of monitoring and intervention due to the irreversible effects of lead on brain development.