The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating a facility in Ecuador and working with authorities to inspect a cinnamon supplier in connection with elevated levels of lead found in cinnamon applesauce that has led to numerous cases of poisoning in American children.
The FDA suspects that the contaminated cinnamon flavoring in the applesauce could be linked to deliberate additives containing lead, which may have been used to enhance flavor or commercial viability. As a result, more than 60 reports of children experiencing adverse effects after consuming applesauce and apple puree pouches from specific brands have prompted a recall of the products, which have been distributed in more than two dozen states.
The FDA has placed the Austrofoods facility in Ecuador under investigation and is collaborating with Ecuadorian authorities to inspect Negasmart, the supplier of cinnamon to Austrofoods. Additionally, the agency is also examining whether the contaminated cinnamon may have been used in other food items exported to the United States.
Jim Jones, the FDA’s food division director, suggested that the lead contamination appears to be an intentional act. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received reports of confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of poisoning across 22 different states, prompting the FDA to seek more authority from Congress to address the issue. The proposed legislative changes for 2024 include the power to establish binding contamination limits on food, highlighting the limited tools currently available to the FDA to reduce exposure to toxic elements in the food supply.
As the investigation continues, the FDA is urging consumers to be cautious and is working diligently to ensure the safety of the food supply.