An outbreak of lead poisonings in children, tied to contaminated cinnamon applesauce pouches, illustrates the gaps in how heavy metals in foods are regulated.

An outbreak of lead poisonings in children, tied to contaminated cinnamon applesauce pouches, illustrates the gaps in how heavy metals in foods are regulated.

Despite strong efforts to limit lead exposure from sources like paint and gasoline, the U.S. government doesn’t broadly limit lead levels in food, a blind spot that’s become all the more glaring, experts say, as cases of lead poisonings in young children linked to contaminated cinnamon applesauce continue to mount.

As of Tuesday, lead poisoning had been reported in at least 65 children, all younger than 6, who ate pouches of now-recalled cinnamon apple puree and cinnamon applesauce, up from 57 cases two weeks ago, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Children under the age of 6 are most vulnerable to lead poisoning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The heavy metal can lead to developmental problems, damage to the brain and nervous system, and problems with learning, behavior, hearing and speech. Lead exposure can lead to lower IQ and underperformance in school, according to the CDC.

  • Dogyote
    10·
    6 months ago

    Tangential question: at what point, in the manufacture of applesauce, would lead even come in the vicinity of the product. I just don’t see how unless it was deliberately added.

    • candybrie@lemmy.world
      182·
      6 months ago

      Lead is in soil and water. Stuff grown in that soil and water will contain some amount of it.

      • lolcatnip@reddthat.comEnglish
        83·
        6 months ago

        Yep. The FDA advises people not to cook with hot water from the tap, for example, because of the risk of lead exposure. I don’t think most people even know it’s a problem.

        • Dogyote
          2·
          6 months ago

          Although true, that has nothing to do with high levels of lead in food products. It’s a totally separate issue.

        • AA5B@lemmy.world
          1·
          6 months ago

          I didn’t know that was the reason until just now. I always assumed it was an energy saving tip

            • candybrie@lemmy.world
              41·
              6 months ago

              Nah. High lead levels aren’t a “super rare, could only be intentional” type occurrence. We just don’t test that much until people get sick. Babies and toddlers get sick a whole lot faster than adults. You might be eating things with higher than acceptable amounts of lead and not realize for decades.

              • Dogyote
                2·
                6 months ago

                Okay so I don’t understand what you’re arguing or why. Seems like you’re saying there’s high levels of lead in lots of food, but we don’t know because we don’t test… so how do you know if we don’t test?

                I’m saying that levels of lead found in the cinnamon applesauce probably don’t occur just by chance, cuz they were so high they were causing symptoms in children which triggered a recall. That suggests there was more lead present than what naturally occurs. So where’d it come from? The FDA is pretty sure it’s the cinnamon that came from Ecuador, so here are some possibilities:

                1. The cinnamon was grown in a lead mine or something and had extremely high lead levels. Kind of doubt that.

                2. Introduced during processing by machinery containing lead in its metal components. Possible.

                3. Deliberately added to the cinnamon to alter its color or increase its weight. Also possible.

                I’m guessing it’s either #2 or #3.

                • candybrie@lemmy.world
                  21·
                  6 months ago

                  I’m arguing this premise is incorrect:

                  I’m saying that levels of lead found in the cinnamon applesauce probably don’t occur just by chance, cuz they were so high they were causing symptoms in children which triggered a recall. That suggests there was more lead present than what naturally occurs.

                  And going all conspiracy theorist on this is irresponsible until FDA has a chance to investigate.

                  • Dogyote
                    11·
                    6 months ago

                    If you think I’m acting like a conspiracy theorist, then you’re cognitively impaired or trolling. Stop eating lead laced food?