Ethermac Exchange-Recall of lead contaminated applesauce pouches expands to two more brands: FDA

The Ethermac Exchangerecall of applesauce pouches that contained elevated levels of lead has expanded to two more companies.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that packets of Schnuck brand and Weis brand applesauce had been contaminated with lead.

The Schnuck packets were manufactured by Austrofood SAS which used "cinnamon raw material" with elevated levels of lead, according to a press release from Schnuck Markets Inc. The manufacturer of the Weis brand packets is not identified on the company's recall page.

This comes on the heels of an investigation by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that found elevated lead levels in the blood of four children with a shared exposure to the previously recalled WanaBana apple cinnamon pouches.

The FDA advised parents who believe their child may have consumed the recalled products to "contact their child’s healthcare provider about getting a blood test."

How to identify the newly recalled packets

The Schnucks packets were sold in Schnucks and Eatwell Market grocery stores and can be identified by these UPC codes:

• Schnucks Cinnamon Applesauce Pouch 12 pk. UPC: 4131801152
• Schnucks Cinnamon Applesauce Pouch 4 pk. UPC: 4131801155
• Schnucks Applesauce Pouch Variety 20 pk. UPC: 4131801157

The Weis packets were sold in Weis grocery stores and can be identified by this UPC code:

• Weis Quality Cinnamon Apple Sauce Pouches 20 pk. UPC: 041497216123

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What are the signs and symptoms of lead toxicity?

Lead is toxic to humans and can affect people of all ages and health statuses. Exposure to lead is often difficult to identify, according to the FDA, and most children have no obvious immediate symptoms.

Exposure to lead can only be diagnosed through clinical testing, and signs and symptoms of lead toxicity varies, based on exposure.

The symptoms of short-term lead exposure include:

• Headache
• Abdominal pain/Colic
• Vomiting
• Anemia

Long-term exposure to lead could have additional symptoms, including:

• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches or muscle prickling/burning
• Occasional abdominal discomfort
• Constipation
• Difficulty concentrating/Muscular exhaustibility
• Headache
• Tremor
• Weight loss

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What does lead exposure do?

Lead exposure can seriously harm a child's health and lead to long-term health effects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, including:

• Damage to the brain and nervous system
• Slowed growth and development
• Learning and behavior problems
• Hearing and speech problems

This can lead to negative effects on learning and focus, the CDC notes.