In response to reports of elevated lead levels, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is advising Montanans to dispose of certain recalled baby food products.
The cautionary announcement follows incidents where 22 toddlers in 14 states fell ill as of November 7, 2023, after consuming pouches of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce. Brands identified in connection with lead poisoning include WanaBana apple cinnamon applesauce pouches, Schnucks cinnamon applesauce pouches, and Weis cinnamon applesauce pouches.
The implicated products were distributed through Dollar Tree stores in Montana before the recall.
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services provided the following information:
Federal, state, and local authorities are urging healthcare providers to remain vigilant for potential cases of lead poisoning in children. This comes in the wake of 22 reported cases, as of November 7, 2023, where toddlers in 14 states experienced illness linked to lead exposure from contaminated pouches of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall for the following products due to heightened levels of lead detected in specific units:
WanaBana brand apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches
Schnucks brand cinnamon applesauce pouches
Weis brand cinnamon applesauce pouches
While Montana is not among the 14 states with confirmed cases, the FDA and DPHHS note that these products were retailed at Dollar Tree stores in Montana before the recall announcement. The products have been removed from 19 stores across the state. Additionally, they are available nationally through various retailers, including online platforms like Amazon.
Dr. Maggie Cook-Shimanek, Public Health Physician at DPHHS, advised, “If you suspect your child may have consumed the recalled fruit pouches, consult your child’s healthcare provider for a blood test for lead. Given the extended shelf life of these products, consumers are advised to inspect their homes and discard these items.”
It is crucial to highlight that there is no safe level of lead exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies children with blood lead levels higher than most at 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. In this particular outbreak, affected children exhibited blood lead levels ranging from 4 to 29 micrograms per deciliter.
Symptoms of lead poisoning in children may include, but are not limited to, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in activity levels, and anemia. Dr. Cook-Shimanek emphasized that children are more susceptible to lead poisoning due to their developing nervous systems. Even in cases with no immediate symptoms, low lead levels have been associated with long-term learning, behavioral, and cognitive effects.
