Encourage Lead Screening: WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Purée Recall

Date: 01/19/24

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

WanaBana USA is voluntarily recalling all WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Purée pouches after receiving reports that elevated levels of lead were found in some products.

Sunshine Health encourages providers to discuss the recall with parents, guardians and caretakers and check if their children have consumed these or related WanaBana products. Children who consumed these products should undergo a blood test to check for lead exposure.

Remember: All children enrolled in a Florida Medicaid health plan are required to have at least one blood lead screening before 2 years of age.

Recalled Products

WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit purée pouches were distributed nationwide through online and retail stores including Amazon and Dollar Tree/Family Dollar. This product is also distributed in the U.S. under the Schnucks and Weis labels. All are being recalled:

• WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit purée pouches, including three packs
• Schnucks-brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches and variety packs
• Weis-brand cinnamon applesauce pouches

Actions for Physicians/Providers

• Educate patients and families about the health effects of lead exposure in children. Most children have no obvious symptoms, but appropriate screening can detect lead in blood.
• Test children who have consumed a recalled applesauce pouch for lead exposure.
• Consider lead exposure in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with clinical findings associated with lead poisoning.

Lead Exposure Symptoms

Providers should make sure parents, guardians and caretakers know that lead is toxic and can have adverse health effects regardless of age or health. Tell them to watch out for these symptoms:

• Short-Term Lead Exposure Symptoms: Headache, abdominal/colic pain, vomiting and anemia.
• Long-Term Lead Exposure Symptoms: Irritability, lethargy, fatigue, constipation, difficulty concentrating, tremors, weight loss and muscle aches, muscle weakness and/or muscle prickling/burning.

How to Report Lead Exposure

Florida requires healthcare providers to report all blood lead tests. Blood lead levels ≥3.5 µg/dL must be reported to DOH by the next business day. All blood lead levels <3.5 µg/dL must be reported to DOH within 10 business days.

• Providers should complete a Florida Practitioner Disease Report Form (PDF)
  
• Providers and consumers can use the FDA MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form
• They can also call the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in Florida at 1-866-337-6272

Florida Resources

• Florida’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
• Florida Lead Poisoning Screening and Case Management Guide (PDF)
• Disease Reporting Information for Health Care and Laboratory Providers

National Resources

• WanaBana recall notice (PDF)
• FDA recall announcement
• FDA outbreak investigation (includes latest updates)
• CDC Health Effects of Lead Exposure
• CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
• CDC recommendations for screening Medicaid-eligible, high-risk children for lead

Questions?

If you have any questions, please call Sunshine Health Provider Services at 1-844-477-8313 or visit the Secure Provider Portal. Our Provider Engagement staff are also here to help answer questions. Visit the Find Your Administrator tool to confirm the individual supporting your specialty and region. We encourage you stay up to date on Sunshine Health provider notices by reviewing and bookmarking Provider News.

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