Three Children's Applesauce Brands Recall Products Due to Lead Contamination, FDA Investigating Illness Reports

Schnucks, Weis and WanaBana Recalls Affect all Applesauce Pouches Regardless of Expiration Date Amid "Extremely High" Lead Levels, Prompting Urgent FDA Warning to Discard Products and Seek Medical Attention for Children Consuming These Products

Three brands—Schnucks, Weis, and WanaBana—have issued recalls for their cinnamon applesauce pouches after detecting potentially high levels of lead. The FDA issued recalls on November 3, following an investigation that began in October after four children reportedly suffered from high blood lead levels, indicating potential acute lead toxicity.
The FDA warns that consumers should not eat, serve, or sell any of these products and should discard them immediately. Additionally, children who may have consumed these pouches are urged to get a blood test conducted by a healthcare provider as lead is toxic and particularly harmful to young children, causing potential developmental delays and damage to the brain and nervous system.
As of November 1, seven adverse event reports linked to the applesauce pouches have emerged from at least five states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, and North Carolina. This includes an initial investigation in North Carolina, where high lead concentrations were detected in multiple lots of WanaBana pouches, this detection led to a subsequent voluntary recall by WanaBana.
The investigation into the source of lead contamination is still ongoing, led by the FDA’s Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation Network in collaboration with the CDC and local health departments. The FDA is also evaluating additional reports of illnesses and whether other products are linked to the illnesses.
Schnucks announced its supplier, Purcell International, had found elevated lead levels in the cinnamon used by its manufacturer, Austrofood SAS. The recalled products, which include all WanaBana pouches and certain Schnucks and Weis pouches, are sold by various retailers, including Amazon, Dollar Tree, and Sam’s Club, and stores such as Schnucks and Eatwell Markets.