Lead poisoning from fruit pouches: Here's what to know

Pouched foods marketed for very young children have gained popularity because they don't require utensils and can be eaten on the go. So news that several children got lead poisoning after eating cinnamon-flavored applesauce from squeezable pouches has been alarming.

This week, federal officials cited 52 reports of "adverse events" related to elevated blood lead levels after eating from pouches of apple cinnamon fruit puree manufactured in Ecuador and sold under WanaBana, Weis and Schnucks brands in 25 states.

The children involved range in age from less than 1 to 4 years old, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

Seven cases have been reported in New York, the FDA said. But the agency declined to identify the counties with cases.

The state Department of Health said in a statement that people can contact their local health departments to determine if local cases have been identified.

State Health Commissioner James McDonald urged parents to contact their child's health care provider if they suspect their child has consumed any of the recalled products, "keeping in mind that children can look and feel healthy even when they've been exposed to lead."

Here's what to know.

How did applesauce get tainted with lead?

The FDA is warning parents not to feed their children certain applesauce pouches from three brands — Schnucks, WanaBana and Weis — because the fruit puree might contain dangerous levels of lead.

The FDA said in November it has broadened its investigation to identify the source of the contamination. One company said the contamination may have come from the cinnamon added to the purees. Schnuck Markets of St. Louis said a supplier reported "elevated levels of lead found in the cinnamon raw material" used by Austrofood, which manufactures certain Schnuck-branded applesauce pouches.

The recalled products include certain Schnucks Cinnamon Applesauce and variety pouches, WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches and certain lots of Weis brand cinnamon applesauce pouches.

Have there been any Long Island cases?

The FDA said there have been seven reported cases in New York, but the agency does not identify the affected counties.

The agency said some pouches of WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Puree are still on the shelves at several Dollar Tree stores in multiple states.

The FDA said that WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Puree is sold nationally through multiple retailers including Amazon and Dollar Tree, and that Schnucks-brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches are sold at Schnucks and Eatwell Markets grocery stores, which are in the Midwest.

McDonald, the state health commissioner, said his agency is aware of potential cases in a number of counties where the product was consumed by a child who came back with an elevated blood lead test. Many of these cases are still being investigated to evaluate all potential sources of lead and the potential involvement of the applesauce product, state health officials said in the statement.

"Please note, it is essential to recognize that this is a statewide concern," said the health department statement.

The Department of Health said it has alerted all counties and health care providers regarding this source of lead exposure and to be on the lookout for related cases.

What if your child might have eaten these products?

Get a blood test. The easiest way to detect lead exposure is to test for levels of lead in the blood, said Dr. Hernan Gomez, a medical toxicologist and clinical associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Michigan.

What happens if a blood test shows high levels of lead?

In most cases, the first goal is to work with a doctor or health expert to identify the sources of lead exposure and eliminate them, experts said. A child with high levels of lead poisoning may be treated with chelators, a prescription medication given orally or intravenously that helps to remove lead from the blood.

What are the symptoms of lead exposure?

Most of the time, lead exposure does not cause immediate symptoms. 

Long-term lead exposures can cause irritability, lethargy, muscle aches, constipation, difficulty concentrating, tremors and weight loss, according to the FDA. 

What levels of lead exposure are concerning?

There's no safe level of lead exposure.

What are the most common sources of lead exposure?

Common sources of lead exposure include the paint in homes built before 1978, contaminated soil and drinking water from corroding lead pipes. But lead can also be present in many household items including old toys, imported cosmetics, spices and cookware or pottery.

Young children are more at risk for lead exposure because they crawl and put things in their mouth.

With The Washington Post and Craig Schneider