FDA Screens Cinnamon Imports Because of Apple Puree Lead Contamination; More Children Getting Sick

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that it is now screening cinnamon imports from different countries because of the alarming apple puree lead contamination.

(Photo : Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images) Sri Lankan women cinnamon growers carry fresh cinnamon quills during a religious ceremony in the southern town of Seenigama on December 17, 2011. Farmers offered part of their crops to thank the Gods for the harvest. Sri Lanka is the world's largest grower of natural cinnamon and controls around 90 percent of global output.

The health agency announced this effort after new reports confirmed that more and more children are getting sick. FDA confirmed the latest cinnamon import screening on Thursday, Nov. 16.

Here are the latest details shared by the FDA regarding the apple puree lead poisoning.

FDA Screens Cinnamon Imports Because of Apple Puree Lead Contamination

According to Yahoo Finance's latest report, FDA officials said that it is now checking incoming shipments of cinnamon from multiple countries for lead contamination.

"At this time, FDA has no indication that this issue extends beyond these recalled products, but to further protect public health, FDA is screening incoming shipments of cinnamon," said the health organization via its official website.

However, the FDA claims that the Ecuador-based cinnamon manufacturer is likely the main source of the high levels of lead they discovered in the recalled apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches.

FDA said that these contaminated pouches are sold under the Weis, WanaBana, and Schnucks brands. The health organization said that it detected elevated levels of lead in one of the affected puree products, which was collected from Dollar Tree.

"The level detected in the FDA sample of WanaBana apple cinnamon puree is 2.18 parts per million (ppm), which, for context, is more than 200 times greater than the action level the FDA has proposed," said FDA.

Aside from screening cinnamon imports from Ecuador, the FDA said that it will also conduct an investigation to determine if the lead contamination poisoning kids is linked to other products.

It clarified that they are not aware of any other reports of elevated blood lead level adverse events or illnesses caused by other cinnamon-containing products.

Rising Lead Contamination Among Children

(Photo: Andrew Wong/Getty Images) A shopper chooses granny smith apples at the newly-opened Tesco supermarket on January 27, 2007, in Beijing, China. The UK giant opened its first own-brand supermarket in Beijing after investing in 46 stores across China under the name of its Chinese partner, Le Gou, which translates as "Happy Shopping".

FDA confirmed that the lead poisoning cases among children increased by 34; these kids consumed the popular apple cinnamon puree pouches.

It added that they are still evaluating incoming adverse reports of illnesses. To help parents and their children, FDA provided some tips they can follow:

Avoid eating any puree products from the Schnucks, Weis, and WanaBana brands.
If you see one of their apple purees on your shelves, dispose of them right away.
If suspect your kid of being exposed to lead, immediately contact your healthcare provider to get a blood test.
- Here are the symptoms you need to be aware of:
  - Headache
  - Abdominal pain/colic
  - Vomiting
  - Anemia