The Food and Drug Administration on Friday said it thinks elevated levels of lead in cinnamon applesauce that has poisoned dozens of American children could be linked to deliberate additives in the food’s cinnamon flavoring, and is inspecting a food facility in Ecuador.
There have been more than 60 reports of children reporting “adverse effects” after eating applesauce and apple puree pouches from the brands WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis. The products have been recalled.
The cases span more than two dozen states.
The FDA said it has placed the Austrofoods facility in Ecuador under investigation, and is looking into whether “the cinnamon contamination occurred as a possible result of economically motivated adulteration” – implying additives containing lead were intentionally used to enhance flavor or commercial viability.
Since there is no federal requirement for lead testing in domestically produced or imported food in the United States, the FDA is working with Ecuadorian authorities to inspect Negasmart, the supplier of cinnamon to Austrofoods.
It will also investigate whether the cinnamon in question was used in other items exported to the US.
Jim Jones, the FDA’s food division director, suggested in an interview with Politico that the lead contamination appears to be an intentional act.
As of 8 December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is collaborating with state and local health departments, had received reports of 46 confirmed cases, 68 probable cases and 11 suspected cases across 22 different states.
In response to the reports, the FDA has requested more authority from Congress to address the issue. Legislative proposals for 2024 include the power to set binding contamination limits on food, which underlines the limited tools currently available to the FDA to reduce exposure to toxic elements in the food supply.
