Jim Jones, FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, told Politico in December that the agency believed then that the contamination was economically motivated. “My instinct is they didn’t think this product was going to end up in a country with a robust regulatory process,” Jones said. “They thought it was going to end up in places that did not have the ability to detect something like this.”
Health effects
For the hundreds of US children poisoned by the applesauce pouches, the finding of chromium adds yet more nightmarish uncertainty of possible long-term health effects. Lead is a potent neurotoxic metal that can damage the brain and nervous system. In developing toddlers and younger children, the effects of the acute exposures could manifest as learning and behavior problems, as well as hearing and speech problems in the years to come.
The effects of chromium exposure are less clear. Chromium is a naturally occurring metal and an essential trace nutrient. But there are two notable forms: chromium III and the more toxic chromium VI. The FDA’s testing couldn’t identify which form of chromium was present in the cinnamon applesauce pouches, but the more toxic chromium VI is what’s present in lead chromate. Chromium VI is considered a carcinogen, and chronic, prolonged inhalation and skin exposure is associated with chronic lung disease and ulceration of skin and mucous membranes, the CDC notes. But the effects of eating chromium VI are not well studied or understood beyond the immediate, nonspecific effects of an acute exposure—which might include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, and kidney and liver dysfunction.
The CDC and the FDA note that it’s possible that even if chromium VI contaminated the applesauce pouches, the acidity of the applesauce and the stomach may have converted the chromium VI to chromium III.
The FDA recommends that the families of children exposed to the recalled pouches—especially those with elevated blood lead levels—should inform their health care providers of potential chromium exposure. The CDC provided clinical guidance for doctors on how to test and care for children with exposure.
The recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches include WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches (sold nationally and through multiple retailers, including Amazon and Dollar Tree), Schnucks-brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches and variety packs (sold at Schnucks and Eatwell Markets grocery stores), and Weis-brand cinnamon applesauce pouches (sold at Weis grocery stores).
According to the CDC’s latest numbers, which, as of the time of publication, were last updated on December 29, there have been a total of 287 cases identified across 37 states.