More than 20 toddlers became ill after consuming now-recalled bags of applesauce containing elevated levels of lead, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.
In 14 different states, at least 22 children between the ages of one and three have been reported to have high blood lead levels, the CDC said. States that have reported illnesses in children include Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.
Children have been reported to have between four and 29 micrograms of lead per deciliter – the CDC says children with blood results above 3.5 micrograms per deciliter have elevated levels.
This recent influx of sick young children follows the recall by the US Food and Drug Administration of several brands of apple cinnamon pouches, including WanaBana, Schnuck and Weis applesauce.
The CDC recommends that consumers not buy, eat, sell, or serve the recalled products.
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Picture of a white ceramic bowl with applesauce.
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Various brands of applesauce are sold both online and in stores. The FDA said in the recall announcement that consumers should check their homes and discard any remaining bags because the products have a long shelf life.
The recall began with Wanabana on Oct. 31, when the brand voluntarily recalled all bags of apple cinnamon fruit puree after four children had elevated blood levels. On October 28, four young children in North Carolina reported potential acute lead toxicity, prompting the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) to investigate the incidents. .
Shortly thereafter, on November 9, the FDA expanded its recall to notify consumers of the recalled Schnucks and Weis apple cinnamon bags.
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As of Thursday’s announcement, 22 cases have been reported and the FDA has begun working with state partners to evaluate additional bags of applesauce and fruit puree. “At this time, sample analyzes have not shown elevated levels of lead in any of the non-recalled products,” the FDA said.
The FDA said most children may not have obvious or immediate symptoms of lead exposure, but if parents suspect their child may have been exposed to lead, they should take their child to a doctor for a blood test.
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In addition to parents being aware of any symptoms of lead poisoning, the CDC has also asked doctors to record and report lead poisonings to local health authorities.
With short-term exposure to lead, parents should be aware of the following symptoms: headache, abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting and anemia.
Long-term exposure to lead can include the above symptoms as well as irritability, lethargy, fatigue, muscle aches, muscle burning, muscle burning, muscle wasting, occasional abdominal discomfort, constipation, difficulty concentrating, tremors, and weight loss.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education