The remembered WanaBana cinnamon applesauce pouches possibly connected to lead poisonings in numerous individuals throughout the United States were most likely infected by a single cinnamon processor in Ecuador, the Food and Drug Administration stated Tuesday.
Ecuadorian authorities have actually determined Carlos Aguilera, a cinnamon processor, as “the most likely source of contamination” of the applesauce pouchesthe FDA stated.
Aguilera sourced his cinnamon from Sri Lanka. According to Ecuadorian authorities, the cinnamon sticks were devoid of lead contamination before they were processed.
Aguilera is simply one part of supply chain for the Florida-based WanaBana cinnamon applesauce pouches. The pouches are made at a center in Ecuador called Austrofoods, which sources its cinnamon from another Ecuadorian provider called Negasmart. Negasmart, in turn, got its cinnamon from Aguilera, according to Ecuadorian authorities.
The examination and legal procedures by authorities in Ecuador to identify supreme obligation for the contamination are still continuous, the FDA stated, however Aguilera’s service is not running at this time.
In an interview with the Ecuadorian paper El UniversoAguilera rejected the allegation, stating he did not pollute the cinnamon. He stated that authorities tested items processed in 3 of his mills and did not discover lead.
WanaBana did not right away react to an ask for remark. NBC News was not able to reach Negasmart.
WanaBana has formerly stated it is dealing with the FDA on its examination.
Considering that late in 2015, the FDA has actually been examining lead contamination in WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree, together with 2 other items made by WanaBana: the grocery store brand names Schnucks apple sauce pouches with cinnamon and Weis cinnamon apple sauce. The FDA had actually pinpointed the cinnamon as the most likely source of contamination and the company had actually stated that the contamination might have been deliberate
Since Feb 2., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had actually gotten 413 reports of raised blood lead levels connected to the pouches in 43 states.
It’s uncertain what regulative or legal action, if any, the FDA can take versus Aguilera. The FDA did not instantly react to an ask for extra remark.
The company stated in the release Tuesday that it has “minimal authority” over foreign active ingredient providers who do not straight deliver items to the U.S., implying the company “can not take direct action” versus Negasmart or Aguilera. It is Austrofoods, not Negasmart or Aguilera, that eventually ships items to the U.S.
An FDA representative informed NBC News recently that if the firm figures out that applesauce pouches had actually been adulterated, it can take regulative action, which might consist of “dealing with the producer to solve the concern, and, as suitable, taking actions to avoid the item from getting in, or staying, in the U.S. market.”
The FDA kept in mind that it is dealing with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to evaluate for any items from Negasmart or cinnamon being imported from Ecuador.
To date, the representative stated, the FDA has actually verified that Negasmart does not deliver items straight to the U.S., nor do Negasmart’s clients. The declaration did not point out items from Aguilera.
Berkeley Lovelace Jr. is a health and medical press reporter for NBC News. He covers the Food and Drug Administration, with an unique concentrate on Covid vaccines, prescription drug prices and healthcare. He formerly covered the biotech and pharmaceutical market with CNBC.