In a significant public health oversight, hundreds of American children were poisoned last year due to high levels of lead found in cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches produced by WanaBana. Investigations by The New York Times, @examinationnews, @By_Cjewett, and @WillFitzgibbon revealed that the food-safety system failed at multiple levels, allowing lead-tainted applesauce to enter the U.S. market undetected. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced agreements to enhance efforts in protecting children from lead poisoning. This issue has prompted calls for legislative action, including the proposed Baby Food Safety Act by Congressman Raja. WanaBana initiated a nationwide recall about four months ago, but parents continue to express concerns over the potential long-term health impacts on their children. The situation has raised questions about the effectiveness of the U.S. food-safety system and the role of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in preventing such failures.
Hundreds of American children were poisoned after a lead-tainted product sailed through gaps in the food-safety system. Listen to "The Daily" to hear what went wrong. https://t.co/9Po5aSPSKq
Children were poisoned with lead from cinnamon-flavored applesauce. Where was the @FDA? https://t.co/kIAzOWFfaF
While there's no excuse for so much lead in applesauce, the NYTimes offers no evidence anyone has been actually poisoned: "Their 3-year-old daughter, a fierce, bright girl who loves twirly dresses and nail polish, had a blood-lead level of 24 micrograms per deciliter, nearly… https://t.co/0TZM2U8th6
Lead-tainted apple sauce is a horrifying error that never should have happened. Kids all over—mine included—eat apple sauce each day. As @DadsCaucus chair, I’m contacting @US_FDA immediately to demand answers. https://t.co/hUblqvGsD1
Lead-Tainted Applesauce Sailed Through Gaps in Food-Safety System via @NYTimes https://t.co/GRF2UvKb9B
About four months after WanaBana announced a nationwide recall of its cinnamon applesauce pouches, parents of lead-poisoned children say they’re still living in constant fear of the potential long-term health issues that could develop in their young ones. https://t.co/wEBESpGGDZ
Hundreds of American children were poisoned last year by cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches containing high doses of lead. Records obtained by The New York Times and @examinationnews show how, time and again, the contamination went unnoticed. https://t.co/2IRw6Q8a3Y
Lead-tainted applesauce resulted in hundreds of children being poisoned. It's time Congress act to protect our kids, and that includes passing my Baby Food Safety Act. https://t.co/h6DB3UNuOS
Lead-tainted applesauce recalled after poisoning hundreds of children: ‘A catastrophic failure’ https://t.co/9JJDkg8U78 https://t.co/Aj5dm4gFow
Lead-Tainted Applesauce Sailed Through Gaps in Food-Safety System https://t.co/X0TOmpuw28
Hundreds of children sickened from high levels of lead in applesauce pouches last year put a spotlight on lapses in the food-safety system. https://t.co/k3dy4vMLr4
Lead-Tainted Applesauce Sailed Through Gaps in Food-Safety System Hundreds of American children were poisoned last year. Records show how, time and again, the contamination went unnoticed. https://t.co/vEVlsRtThZ
Records show the food-safety system failed at almost every level last year as foreign food makers and importers allowed lead-tainted applesauce to enter the U.S. and poison hundreds of young children. By @By_Cjewett and @WillFitzgibbon https://t.co/PEllHaLvYO
Hundreds of American children were poisoned last year with high doses of lead found in cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches. Records obtained by The New York Times and @examinationnews show how, time and again, the contamination went unnoticed. https://t.co/5HZhmChIBr
EPA is committed to working with our federal partners to protect children from the harmful effects of lead. EPA, @HUDgov, and @HHSgov have announced two agreements that strengthen our shared work in protecting children from #LeadPoisoning. https://t.co/nGHRFLs430