Food inspectors in the United States have uncovered an alarming revelation regarding the presence of high levels of lead in cinnamon at a processing plant located in Ecuador. This specific cinnamon was used in the production of applesauce pouches, which have been linked to numerous cases of illness among American children. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this worrisome discovery on Monday.
According to FDA officials, the levels of lead detected in the tested cinnamon were more than 2,000 times higher than the maximum level proposed by the agency. These samples were obtained from ground or powdered cinnamon sourced from Negasmart, an Ecuadorian company that supplied the spice to Austrofoods, the manufacturer responsible for the contaminated pouches. The affected applesauce pouches were sold under the brands WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis. Despite attempts to gather information, Austrofoods has not provided any comment regarding the ongoing investigation.
Fortunately, the FDA has assured consumers that its testing has not detected any traces of lead in WanaBana products that did not contain cinnamon and were sold in the United States. This provides some relief for individuals who have purchased these products, but the focus remains on determining how the cinnamon became contaminated in the first place. Jim Jones, head of the FDA’s human foods program, voiced his concern about this incident being an intentional act during an interview with Politico last week.
The FDA will continue to thoroughly investigate this matter to ensure the safety and well-being of consumers. It is crucial that every step is taken to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
Lead Contamination in Cinnamon Raises Concerns
One theory regarding the recent lead contamination in cinnamon suggests that economic motives may have played a role. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) speculates that an ingredient may have been added or subtracted from the spice to increase its value. Research has shown that substances such as red brick, red lead salt, lead oxide, and lead chromate, which mimic cinnamon’s red color, have been illicitly added to enhance its market worth.
Although the FDA is unable to directly intervene with Negasmart, the company under investigation, they are collaborating with officials in Ecuador to uncover the truth. It is important to note that Negasmart does not directly ship its products to the U.S. In fact, among Negasmart’s customers, only Austrofoods has been identified as an entity that distributed goods to the U.S., according to the agency.
Disturbingly, recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that approximately 125 children from 22 states may have fallen ill due to lead poisoning since late October. Conversely, the FDA, using a different reporting method, has recorded at least 65 children aged 6 and under affected in 27 states as of December 8.
Health officials have conducted tests, revealing that children who consumed contaminated pouches had blood lead levels up to eight times higher than the reference threshold of concern. Shockingly, samples of the fruit puree contained lead contamination exceeding FDA limits by over 200 times, officials report.