Lead Found In Toddler Fruit Puree Pouches Sold In Rhode Island

RHODE ISLAND — The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) issued an advisory Monday to parents and caregivers urging them not to feed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit purée pouches to toddlers or young children. State health officials said these products contain elevated lead levels.

This health advisory is being issued for all lot codes of WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit purée pouches, with any expiration dates. These products were sold nationally, including in Rhode Island, and are available at several retailers, including Sam’s Club, Amazon, and Dollar Tree.

The advisory happened after a North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) investigation, which stemmed from four children who ate the pouches having lead poisoning. North Carolina health officials analyzed several lots of WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit purée and said they detected high concentrations of lead. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it reviewed and supported NCDHHS’s analytical findings and found that analytical results at this level could result in acute toxicity.

Lead is toxic to humans and can affect people of any age or health status. Lead exposure in children is often difficult to see. Most children have no obvious immediate symptoms. If there’s suspicion that a child may have been exposed to lead, health officials said parents should talk to their child's doctor about getting a blood test. Although lead can only be diagnosed through clinical testing, signs and symptoms of lead toxicity vary based on exposure.

Short-term exposure to lead could result in the following symptoms:

• Headache
• Abdominal pain/Colic
• Vomiting
• Anemia
• Longer term exposure could result in additional symptoms:
• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches or muscle prickling/burning
• Occasional abdominal discomfort
• Constipation
• Difficulty concentrating/Muscular exhaustibility
• Headache
• Tremor
• Weight loss.

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