With dozens of children across the United States suffering from lead poisoning, federal regulators are now investigating whether the culprit is cinnamon that was added to some popular applesauce pouches, and if lead had been added somewhere along the global supply chain, either to enhance the spice’s reddish color or to add weight.
In November, the Food and Drug Administration announced a national recall of three million pouches of cinnamon applesauce made in Ecuador and sold at dollar stores and other outlets under the WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis brand names.
Concern about the poisoning cases, affecting as many as 125 children, has highlighted a broader gap in F.D.A. food oversight. There is no federal requirement to test for lead in food made domestically or imported into the United States. In this case, a North Carolina health department investigation pinpointed the source of contamination after receiving reports of high levels of lead readings in children’s blood tests.
That the levels of lead in children’s blood tends to be the first line of detection for lead in food is “effectively using kids as canaries,” said Tom Neltner, senior director of safer chemicals at the Environmental Defense Fund, an advocacy group. He said that the F.D.A. has not set enforceable limits for lead in food, much less in spices.
