The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that Dollar Tree failed to effectively recall bags of lead-tainted applesauce linked to reports of more than 500 children becoming ill, instead allowing the product to remain on shelves in some stores for two months.
The FDA sent a warning letter to Dollar Tree this month and issued an import alert to NegaSmart, the Ecuadorian distributor of Wanabana Apple Cinnamon Pouches, following a recall in October 2023 of the product that was found to be contaminated with “extremely high” levels of lead and chromium.
Children in 44 states had suspected or confirmed elevated blood lead levels after eating packets of applesauce marketed for young children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The outbreak was declared over in April.
FDA officials dispatched Warning letter The company told Dollar Tree last week, two months after it was notified of the recall, that Wanabana apple puree products were on store shelves in several states until late December.
Officials at the Chesapeake, Virginia-based company said they had banned the products from sale at cash registers, but the FDA said that was “not an effective measure” because at least one child in Washington state had eaten a recalled fruit pouch in a store before purchasing it.
Dollar Tree executives said in an email Tuesday that the company is operating under new leadership and has taken steps to strengthen its processes for “executing product recalls quickly and effectively.” The company operates more than 16,000 discount stores in 48 states.
FDA officials said they have no indication that NegaSmart is attempting to import products into the U.S., but the company was the subject of multiple import warnings this month, measures designed to ensure that any attempts by the company to import its products are “flagged” by FDA inspectors and prevent them from reaching consumers.
Tests found that the cinnamon extracted from this plant contained more than 2,000 times the maximum level of lead proposed by the FDA.
Anyone who consumes Recalled pouches The CDC stressed that there is no safe level of lead exposure and that it can cause serious learning and behavioral problems.
These pouches include those sold in Dollar Tree stores and online under the WanaBana brand, as well as those sold in stores under the Schnucks and Weis brands. These pouches have a long shelf life and may still be in consumers’ homes. Consumers should not eat or serve these pouches and should discard them.
