Share this @internewscast.com

Children who consumed the recalled lead-contaminated WanaBana cinnamon applesauce pouches may also have been exposed to the heavy metal chromium, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

The FDA tested samples of the recalled product as part of its investigation into cases of lead poisoning in the U.S. that are linked to the applesauce. In addition to WanaBana cinnamon applesauce, the recall included two other products made by the company: the supermarket brands Schnucks applesauce pouches with cinnamon and Weis cinnamon applesauce.

As of Dec. 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had received 287 confirmed, probable and suspected reports of elevated blood lead levels linked to the pouches across 37 states.

Chromium occurs naturally in two forms: chromium-3, which is an essential nutrient, and chromium-6, which is a known carcinogen, according to the CDC.

Due to testing limitations, the FDA said it couldn’t determine which form of chromium was in the applesauce pouches. However, the ratio of lead to chromium found in the samples suggested it might be chromium-6, the FDA said. That’s because the lead-to-chromium ratio in the applesauce was consistent with that of a chemical compound called lead chromate, which contains both lead and chromium-6.

The FDA’s analysis found chromium levels of 0.590 parts per million in one sample and 0.566 ppm in another.

Dr. Laura Breeher, an occupational and environmental medicine physician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said both of those levels are over five times the Environmental Protection Agency’s limit for drinking water. The limits include both chromium-3 and chromium-6 because each form can be converted into the other in the human body.

The FDA does not have a limit for chromium in foods.

It’s unclear whether children exposed to chromium are at risk for serious health problems, as information on the health effects of eating food contaminated with chromium-6 is limited, the FDA said.

Symptoms of chromium exposure from eating contaminated food may be nonspecific and are similar in both children and adults, according to the FDA. Some people might not experience any symptoms, it said.

Consuming large amounts of chromium may cause abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, Breeher said. It can also cause diarrhea, anemia, and kidney and liver dysfunction, according to the FDA.

Prolonged exposure through inhalation has been associated with chronic lung disease, and prolonged skin contact can lead to ulcers, according to the CDC.

Breeher said that while the chromium contamination in applesauce is concerning, she would be more concerned about the health risks of the lead contamination.

“While the levels of chromium are significantly above the EPA drinking water limits, applesauce volume ingested would be low,” she said. “The body tries to protect itself from toxic chromium. Chromium-6 is fairly rapidly converted to the less toxic chromium-3 in the stomach.”

The FDA said it is advising parents with children impacted by the recall to inform their health care provider.

WanaBana, the maker of the applesauce, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It has previously said it is working with the FDA on its investigation.

The FDA also conducted testing for arsenic and cadmium, but those elements were not detected above trace levels, the agency said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol waving from a car.

Worries Grow for Princess in Three-Year Coma Battling Serious Health Issues After Severe Infection

THERE are fears for a Thai princess after the royal palace shared…
Reporter having phone stolen on live TV.

Thrilling Live TV Moment: Reporter Robbed by Phone Snatcher on Bike

THIS is the shocking moment a TV reporter is robbed by a…
Florida woman says moving company held belongings hostage for months

Florida Woman Claims Moving Company Kept Her Belongings Hostage for Months

The BBB says you need to know two things when hiring a…
Israeli soldiers in Gaza.

Israel Mobilizes 60,000 Troops for ‘Operation Gideon’s Chariots II’ to Capture Gaza City with Defense Minister’s Approval

ISRAEL has reportedly called up 60,000 troops as they look to launch…
NYPD welcomes nearly 1,100 recruits to academy – largest class in almost a decade

NYPD Enrolls Largest Academy Class in Nearly a Decade with Nearly 1,100 New Recruits

The NYPD has recently welcomed approximately 1,100 new recruits to its police…
Ukrainian-made long-range drones on a flatbed trailer.

Ukraine Tests New ‘Flamingo’ Missile Capable of Reaching Moscow, Inspired by British Design

UKRAINE has fired a groundbreaking new long-range missile dubbed “Flamingo” for the…
Authors, parents and advocates push back against book bans after Florida Board of Education meeting

Authors, Parents, and Advocates Unite Against Book Bans Following Florida Board of Education Meeting

This summer, 600 book titles were removed from Florida school libraries, following…
Suspects arrested in connection to Gainesville Easter shooting

Arrests Made in Gainesville Easter Shooting Investigation

Three people have been arrested in connection with the shooting at the…
Watch: Republicans Drop Fire Ad Taking Aim at Mamdani and Socialism in Democrat Party

Embracing Socialism: A New Perspective

By Chris Talgo The latest polls indicate that in New York City’s…
Florida Hometown Heroes applications now open

Applications Now Open for Florida’s Hometown Heroes Program

The program provides up to 35,000 to eligible first time homebuyers for…
Woman taking a selfie in a gym.

Popular fitness influencer Nicole Brenda Santos Marins dies after cycling accident involving a car and subsequent lorry collision

A FITNESS influencer has been killed in a horror crash after cycling…

Shocking Development: Uncle’s Deceptive Cover-Up of Girlfriend’s Murder Unveiled in Missing Boy Emmanuel Haro Case

DISTURBING details have emerged about the family of missing seven-month-old Emmanuel Haro…