Are you worried about lead in cinnamon? Consumer Reports can help with information on the brands that are the most and least contaminated with this heavy metal. The issue came to the forefront last fall when hundreds of children were sickened with lead poisoning after eating recalled WanaBana apple cinnamon pouches. Since then, the FDA has increased testing of cinnamon for lead contamination, and many recalls have been issued for unsafe products. The FDA warned consumers to avoid 17 products since their lead content, while still lower than that found in the apple puree pouches, were high enough to risk human health when consumed often. So which products are safer than others? Dr. James Rogers, the director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, said in a … [Read more...]
FDA Finds More Ground Cinnamon Contaminated With Lead
The FDA has found more ground cinnamon contaminated with lead and is continuing to review sample results received from state partners. And that agency has collected the recalled ground cinnamon products in one place; bookmark this page and refer back to it whenever you need to buy cinnamon. State partners have been continuously sampling ground cinnamon from retail establishments for elevated lead levels. You can see the list of recalled products at the FDA web site. Please look at that list carefully. If you did buy any of those brands of cinnamon, do not eat them and do not use them in cooking. These products have a long shelf life, so check your home even if you have not purchased cinnamon lately. If you think that anyone your family has been exposed to lead through these … [Read more...]
Dollar Tree Sold WanaBana Cinnamon Apple Products After Recall
Dollar Tree sold WanaBana Cinnamon Apple products after they were recalled for "extremely high concentrations of lead," according to an FDA warning letter. The investigation into the lead levels in those products started in October 2023. A recall was issued on October4 29, 2023. The recall was "ineffective" at Dollar Tree stores through December 19, 2023, the FDA states. The warning letter states, "Subsequent recall audit checks of your Dollar Tree and Family Dollar/Dollar Tree combination stores (collectively referred to as your “Dollar Tree stores”) revealed that you continued to offer the recalled WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches on store shelves well after the recall was initiated, despite FDA’s numerous attempts to bring this serious issue to your attention." The … [Read more...]
Food Recalls Have Reached Highest Levels Since Covid
Food recalls have reached their highest level since before the Covid pandemic happened in 2020, according to U.S. PIRG. During the pandemic, food recalls dropped precipitously. The lead poisoning outbreak linked to WanaBana cinnamon applesauce products and the Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupe helped drive those recalls. At least 500 children were sickened in the WanaBana outbreak, and in the cantaloupe outbreak, at least 407 people were sickened, 158 people were hospitalized, and six people died. That agency has released a report, "Food For Thought 2024," which found that food and beverage recalls increased by 8% in 2023. Meat, poultry and egg recalls issued by the USDA hit the highest levels since before the pandemic. FDA recalls have been about the same for the least … [Read more...]
New E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak on FDA CORE Table
A new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has been announced on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. There are only two active investigations on that table. The new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened at least nine people. We do not know the states where the ill persons live, the patient age range, illness onset dates, or what type of food is linked to this outbreak. The FDA has started conducted traceback. The second outbreak on the table is the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that is linked to Infinite Herbs fresh organic basil. There are at least 12 people in seven states sick in that outbreak. Two recalls have been issued in relation to that outbreak. The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Rizo-Lopez queso fresco and cotija cheese has ended and that investigation was … [Read more...]
FDA Updates WanaBana Lead and Chromium Poisoning Cases
The FDA has updated the WanaBana lead and chromium poisoning cases. At least 90 children have been affected. The median age in this outbreak is one year old. This investigation is ongoing. The states with confirmed adverse event reports include: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Arizona (1), California (1), Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Georgia (2), Iowa (1), Illinois (5), Indiana (1), Kentucky (3), Louisiana (4), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (7), Michigan (8), Missouri (3), North Carolina (6), Nebraska (2), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (1), New York (8), Ohio (3), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (3), Texas (3), Virginia (2), Washington (4), Wisconsin (2), West Virginia (3), and Unknown (3). The report date range is from October 17 2023 to … [Read more...]
Lead Chromate Found in WanaBana Cinnamon Apple Puree
The FDA says that lead chromate was found in WanaBana Cinnamon Apple Puree pouches, which means that anyone who ate it was exposed to chromium as well as lead. These heavy metals can cause serious health problems. The agency added that the leading hypothesis is that this was "likely an act of economically motivated adulteration." Historically, lead chromate has been illegally added to spices to enhance the color and increase the weight of the spice. That increases the monetary value. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that there are now 468 cases of lead poisoning linked to these products. There are 111 confirmed cases, 320 probable cases, and 37 suspect cases. The states where these patients live include: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, … [Read more...]
Carlos Aguilera Supplied Cinnamon For Wanabana Purees
Carlos Aguilera supplied the cinnamon that were used to make WanaBana fruit purees that caused many lead poisoning illnesses, according to the FDA. Ecuadorian officials in Agencia Nacional de Regulación, Control y Vigilancia Sanitaria (ARCSA) are reporting this discovery. Carlos Aguilera, located in Ecuador, is the processor of the ground cinnamon supplied by Negasmart to Austrofoods and was later used in the recalled WanaBana apple cinnamon products. The unprocessed cinnamon sticks used in the recalled products were sourced from Sri Lanka and were sampled by ARCSA and found to have no lead contamination. The investigation is ongoing. The FDA has limited authority over foreign ingredient suppliers who do not ship directly to the United States, so they cannot take direct … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Outbreak Table Updated With New Listeria Outbreak
The FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table has been updated with a new Listeria outbreak and information about other outbreaks. There are currently four active outbreak investigations on the table. The new Listeria outbreak is not yet linked to any food or product. There are at least 26 people who are sick. No recall has been initiated, traceback has not started, there has been no on-site inspection, and no samples have been collected or analyzed. For the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened three people in a not yet identified food, nothing has changed. Traceback has been initiated, an on-site inspection has been conducted, and samples have been collected and analyzed. The outbreak of Salmonella Newport in an unidentified food has ended, with 45 illnesses, and the … [Read more...]
Now 90 Kids Sick With Lead Poisoning in WanaBana Outbreak
There are now 90 kids sick with lead poisoning in the Wanabana outbreak according to the FDA. These are confirmed reports that are potentially linked to the recalled product. The patients are between zero and 53 years of age, with a median age of one year. The FDA has found no information that this issue extends beyond the recalled products of WanaBana Apple Cinnamon fruit Puree, Schnucks Cinnamon Applesauce, and Weis Cinnamon Applesauce. These products were sold nationwide at the retail level, including Amazon, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar combination stores, and other online outlets. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Arizona (1), California (1), Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Georgia (2), Iowa (1), Illinois (5), Indiana (1), Kentucky (3), Louisiana (4), … [Read more...]
