FDA: Lead-tainted apple sauce still being sold at some Dollar Tree locations

The Food and Drug Administration says despite a recall, pouches of children's apple sauce remain on store shelves and more children are becoming sick.

Gillian Neff and Rose Shannon

Nov 25, 2023, 2:45 PM

Updated 362 days ago

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The Food and Drug Administration says despite a recall, pouches of children's apple sauce remain on store shelves and more children are becoming sick from them.
WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree Pouches, Schnucks Applesauce Pouches (cinnamon flavor and variety pack) and Weis Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches were all recalled because they contained high levels of lead.
This has resulted in more than 50 reports of high blood lead levels found in children under age 4.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says unsafe levels of lead exposure can affect a child's brain, their ability to learn and possibly their growth.
Health officials say even with the recall, people were recently able to purchase the pouches at some Dollar Tree locations. It is not clear why the pouches were not thrown out.
As a result, Dollar Tree has established a system at their cash registers to block any sales of these items.
Meanwhile, the FDA is also screening shipments of cinnamon from multiple countries for possible lead contamination.
The FDA has spent the last two years implementing a plan to reduce high levels of lead and other heavy metals found in baby food. There were no set limits prior to that effort.