NIAGARA COUNTY, N.Y. — A popular children’s snack known for its health benefits is now being taken off the shelves for its harmful effects.
The Niagara County Department of Health announced Wednesday that a child is being treated for having high levels of lead in their blood after consuming applesauce.
The case follows 22 others across the nation in just the past three weeks and a nationwide recall of three applesauce products: WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Purée Pouches, Schnucks Applesauce Pouches (cinnamon flavor and variety pack) and specific lots of Weis Cinnamon Apple Sauce Pouches. The FDA found that those products contained high levels of lead and issued a recall before opening an investigation.
WanaBana is the only brand of the three that sells in Western New York. 2 On Your Side made dozens of calls to the four retailers that carry the brand — Walmart, Target, Dollar Tree, and Whole Foods.
Dollar Tree and Whole Foods said the product has been removed from their shelves due to the recall. Target and Walmart did not return our calls, but their websites no longer list the apple cinnamon variety.
Niagara County Public Health Director Daniel Stapleton said lead can enter food in several ways, but during production is most likely.
“It could be an old old process, could be an old container,” he said. “It could be just sometime during the manufacturing that something was not caught, and it got in.”
According to the Niagara County Department of Health, the short-term effects of lead poisoning range from headache to nausea and vomiting, but the long-term effects, specifically in children, can lead to brain damage, slowed growth, and learning problems.
The department is urging parents to check their pantries and remove these products immediately as well as advising them to be cautious when shopping at smaller markets that may not have yet received the memo to remove the items from their shelves.
“We want to make sure that the thing that happened to this young child doesn't happen to someone else's child,” Stapleton said.
Dollar Tree and Whole Foods confirmed with 2 on Your Side that the products have been removed from the shelves. Target and Walmart did not answer the phone but, the products are not listed on their websites.