FDA confirmed a new metal contaminant in the WanaBana fruit pouches. The Food and Drug Administration announced this after it recalled the WanaBana apple purees over lead contamination.
Officials at the agency said that these affected applesauce products were tied to hundreds of lead poisoning causes across the United States. This is a serious matter since these fruit pouches are manufactured for young kids' consumption.
FDA Finds New Metal Contaminant in WanaBana Fruit Pouches! Officials Warn High Levels of Chromium
Now, another issue with WanaBana apple purees has been discovered by the FDA, creating more concerns about these products. This time, the metal contaminant is chromium.
FDA Finds New Metal Contaminant in WanaBana Fruit Pouches!
The Food and Drug Administration confirmed that the WanaBana fruit pouches it collected have a high level of chromium.
"People who ate recalled products, especially if they had elevated blood lead levels, may have been exposed to chromium," said the FDA via Fox Business.
The consumer safety agency suggested that those who consumed the WanaBana fruit purees and other products manufactured by Ecuador-based Austrofood should immediately inform their healthcare providers.
FDA said that doing this will allow help them monitor their health and receive medical care (if needed). Aside from chromium, the Food and Drug Administration is also checking if these fruit pouches are contaminated by other harmful elements, such as cadmium and arsenic.
The Fox Busines article went on to reveal that FDA investigators haven't found signs of other contamination.
"Those elements were not detected above trace levels in the cinnamon collected from the Austrofoods facility in Ecuador or in the recalled products," said the consumer safety organization.
As of writing, the FDA is still investigating if WanaBana fruit pouches were contaminated on purpose. If you're one of those who recently purchased these consumables, the best thing you can do is wait for the officials' further announcements.
Read Also: FDA Screens Cinnamon Imports Because of Apple Puree Lead Contamination; More Children Getting Sick
Is Chromium Harmful to Humans?
A sign for the Food And Drug Administration is seen outside of the headquarters on July 20, 2020 in White Oak, Maryland.
Health experts and other professionals clarified that accidentally consuming chromium is not really harmful. However, if a person intakes this metal element excessively, that's when things will start turning around.
WebMD reported that there are two kinds of chromium; trivalent chromium (safe for humans) and hexavalent chromium (the harmful one).
Trivalent chromium is included in some foods and supplements since it can help keep blood sugar levels normal. Specifically, it improves the way the human body uses insulin.
However, if taken excessively, even trivalent chromium can cause health complications. These include headaches, stomach upsets, mood changes, and insomnia.
In worse cases, people can suffer from serious side effects, such as kidney and liver damage. These are just some of the harmful effects of consuming too much chromium.
If you want to learn more about the health effects of this element, you can click this link.
Related Article: ATTN: WanaBana Fruit Purees Allegedly Contain Lead; FDA Now Urging Parents to Have Kids Tested
