The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to parents and caregivers “not to buy or feed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches to children because the product may contain elevated levels of lead.”

“Parents and caregivers of toddlers and young children who may have consumed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches should contact their child’s healthcare provider about getting a blood test,” the FDA wrote.

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From the FDA:

Audience

  • Parents and caregivers of toddlers and young children who have recently purchased WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches.

Product

  • WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, all lot codes and expiration dates.
  • WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches are sold nationally and are available through multiple retailers including Sam’s Club, Amazon and Dollar Tree.
  • WanaBana has agreed to voluntarily recall all WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches regardless of expiration.

“If there’s suspicion that a child may have been exposed to lead, parents should talk to their child’s healthcare provider about getting a blood test,” the FDA wrote.

“Although lead can only be diagnosed through clinical testing, signs and symptoms of lead toxicity vary based on exposure.”

According to the FDA, symptoms due to short term lead exposure include: headache, abdominal pain/Colic, vomiting, and anemia.

Longer term lead exposure included symptoms such as irritability, lethargy, fatigue, muscle aches, occasional abdominal discomfort, constipation, difficulty concentrating, headache, tremor, and weight loss.

The New York Post reports:

The federal agency said it found the metal in WanaBana’s apple cinnamon fruit pouches after the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched an investigation into the puree when four children were experiencing elevated blood lead levels, indicating acute lead toxicity.

WanaBana has since agreed to voluntarily recall all of its apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, regardless of expiration, the FDA said.

The agency said it’s still working with state officials “to remove all contaminated product from the market.”

Often marketed as a healthy, on-the-go snack, WanaBana’s apple cinnamon puree contains 50 calories in one 71-gram pouch, including 12 grams of carbs, nine grams of sugars, and two grams of fiber.

The flavor is not currently on WanaBana’s website, which instead promotes flavors like mango, kale and spinach, banana and strawberry, plus options designed for babies like peach, carrot and apply and quinoa flour.

Representatives for WanaBana did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

 

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