CBS News
Factory never tested applesauce packets that were recalled due to lead poisonings, FDA finds
The manufacturer behind now-recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches failed to ever test its product for heavy metals, the Food and Drug Administration found in a recent inspection, among several shortfalls by the plant now linked to hundreds of lead poisonings nationwide.
The FDA’s citation, outlined in a document obtained by CBS News through a freedom of information request, comes from a December inspection of a fruit puree factory in Ecuador run by Austrofood S.A.S.
Austrofood is the company behind the WanaBana brand cinnamon applesauce, as well as batches from store brands Weis and Schnucks that were also recalled, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says has been linked by state and local health authorities to at least 385 cases of lead poisonings across the U.S.
Many cases have been in very young children, who are especially vulnerable to the long-lasting developmental delays caused by lead poisoning, the CDC has said.
Lead poisoning cases in 42 states
A total of 42 states have now reported at least one case of lead poisoning in someone who recently consumed one of the recalled products. Cases have continued to mount in recent weeks, as health departments have linked previous lead poisonings dating back to last year with the product.
“The increase in case counts reflects newly reported cases, for which the time of applesauce consumption varies. There is still ongoing outreach to find new cases at this time, and communication efforts to spread awareness of the dangers of these products are focused on preventing future exposures,” a CDC spokesperson said in a Jan. 19 statement.
The FDA says the company failed twice, when analyzing the process for producing its applesauce products, to draw up plans to mitigate the risk that the cinnamon it was buying might end up contaminating its products.
“In addition, you did not sample and test the raw material or the finished product for heavy metals. Furthermore, sampling conducted by FDA in the United States identified [a] high level of lead in finished products,” the agency’s inspectors said.
Other issues the FDA found at the plant included shortfalls in its pasteurization and sanitation procedures. Austrofood was also cited for “numerous rough edges, chipped, and pitted areas” on one of its equipment that could break loose and end up in its products.
The FDA previously inspected the plant once before in 2019, FDA records show, which at the time did not result in any citations to the company.
A spokesperson for WanaBana did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“Extremely high” lead levels
While health officials have worried for years over the risk of higher-than-optimal lead levels making its way into baby food, the FDA said last year that the “extremely high” lead levels found in WanaBana’s cinnamon applesauce products was on a different scale. Concentrations of lead found by investigators in North Carolina from testing of the applesauce “could result in acute lead toxicity.”
Another potential worrying metal — chromium — was also reported earlier this month in testing of Austrofood’s cinnamon and the recalled pouches.
That could be the result of lead chromate, the CDC and FDA said. Lead chromate has been used by manufacturers in other countries to hide quality issues with their spices, leading to both chromium and lead poisoning.
The agency said last year it was investigating whether the lead was intentionally added to the cinnamon supplied to Austrofood for economic gain, but has stopped short of confirming this was the cause.
An FDA spokesperson was not able to immediately respond to CBS News’ request for comment, when asked why the FDA has so far been unable to conclude whether the cinnamon was intentionally contaminated.
Officials have previously cited limits to their jurisdiction in their investigation of the lead contamination in Ecuador.
While the agency was able to conduct an inspection at Austrofood’s factory, probing others in the supply chain — like the distributor and supplier suspected to be behind the lead contamination — required the help of authorities in Ecuador.
The FDA has also previously disputed statements by Ecuador’s health authorities about the recall, after the country suggested other not-recalled WanaBana products might also be contaminated.
“FDA has no indication that this issue extends beyond these recalled products and does not have any confirmed reports of illnesses or elevated blood lead level adverse events reported for other cinnamon-containing products or cinnamon,” the FDA said in an update published Jan. 23.
CBS News
One year after Oct. 7 attack, the toll on civilians remains high
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
CBS News
Open: This is “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Oct. 6, 2024
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
CBS News
Kamala Harris will speak with “60 Minutes” tomorrow. Here’s what to know for the interview.
Voters will get the chance to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday as she presents her case for why she should be president in a “60 Minutes” election special.
For decades, “60 Minutes” has featured both Republican and Democratic nominees for presidents, but this year, former President Donald Trump backed out after previously indicating he would be on the show. Correspondent Scott Pelley, who’d been set to interview Trump, will instead travel to Arizona’s Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of Arizona’s voters and a critical battleground in a key swing state.
One thing is certain about the election; with the U.S. deeply involved in both the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, whoever wins on Nov. 5 will become a wartime president.
What Harris will discuss
Israel’s war started one year ago after Hamas launched a surprise terror attack and correspondent Bill Whitaker will discuss the ongoing war with Harris.
Harris will also discuss the economy, immigration, her record as vice president and the differences between herself and Trump.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz will also appear.
Whitaker joined the Democratic ticket on the campaign trail this week to gain insight into their platform’s priorities and values, and what the candidates believe voters should know.
Why Trump pulled out of the “60 Minutes” interview
Leading up to the candidate hour, Trump, through campaign spokespeople, was the first candidate to accept the “60 Minutes” request to be interviewed for the special, according to CBS News. It had been agreed that both candidates would receive equal time during the broadcast.
Trump last sat down with 60 Minutes in 2020. He walked out during the interview with Lesley Stahl. Trump referenced the incident on Tuesday night at a Milwaukee press conference when asked about his decision not to participate in the Oct. 7 “60 Minutes” election special.
“Well, right now, I went to – they came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first I want to get an apology, because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the ‘laptop from hell’ was from Russia, and I said it wasn’t from Russia. It was from Hunter, and I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes.’ I do everything.”
The Republican nominee for president emphasized that he felt he was owed an apology from “60 Minutes.”
“Let’s see if they do it. I wouldn’t mind doing 60,” Trump continued. “I’ve done ’60 Minutes’ a lot.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said that Trump’s team had not agreed to an interview.
“Fake News,” Cheung said in a post on X. “60 Minutes begged for an interview, even after they were caught lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop back in 2020. There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in. They also insisted on doing live fact checking, which is unprecedented.”
Previous Trump, Harris appearances on 60 Minutes
Trump previously sat down with “60 Minutes'” Mike Wallace in 1985, Pelley in 2015 and Lesley Stahl twice in 2016, first in July of that year and then again in November of 2016. He also spoke with Stahl again in 2018 and 2020.
Harris previously sat down with Whitaker last year. She also was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell, “CBS Evening News” anchor and “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent, in 2020.