Dollar Tree’s Oversight Leads to Health Scare: Over 500 Children Sick from Applesauce

Dollar Tree is facing criticism after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the discount store did not remove certain products that were recalled. These products should have been taken off the shelves months ago.

Last year, the FDA specifically told the retailer to stop selling a certain brand of applesauce snacks, but the products remained available for purchase.

Dollar Tree Sold Lead-Tainted Applesauce

Dollar Tree did not successfully pull applesauce pouches containing lead from its shelves, which linked to over 500 children getting sick. According to PBS News, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported on Tuesday that these products stayed in some stores for two months.

This month, the FDA sent a warning letter to Dollar Tree. Furthermore, Negasmart, the Ecuadorian distributor of WanaBana apple cinnamon pouches, was subjected to import alerts.

This measure was taken after the products were recalled in October 2023 due to their contamination with exceptionally high levels of lead and chromium.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that children in 44 states showed probable or confirmed high lead levels in their blood after consuming these applesauce pouches aimed at toddlers. The outbreak was officially declared over in April.

Yahoo News reports that Dollar Tree Inc. received a warning letter from FDA officials last week. The letter stated that WanaBana apple puree products were still being sold in several states until late December, despite the company being informed about the recall two months earlier.

Although Dollar Tree, based in Chesapeake, Virginia, claimed to have blocked sales of the recalled products at registers, the FDA noted this was not a successful strategy. This was evident when a child in Washington State consumed one of the recalled fruit pouches inside a store before attempting to buy it.

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Dollar Tree Acts on FDA Recall

Dollar Tree has responded to the FDA's concerns regarding handling a product recall, per The U.S. Sun. The discount retailer acted quickly after receiving a recall notice in October 2023.

According to a statement to CBS News, as soon as Dollar Tree was informed about the problem with Wanabana's Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree Pouch, they began the recall process.

The company also mentioned continuing to work with the FDA on this matter.

In recent months, Dollar Tree has faced criticism for issues extending beyond the applesauce incident.

At the same time, the FDA has issued several import alerts for Negasmart this month. Although there are no current attempts by Negasmart to import products into the U.S., the FDA has implemented these measures to ensure that any future imports by the firm would be immediately flagged and prevented from reaching consumers.

This decision was influenced by test results showing that cinnamon from the plant contained lead levels more than 2,000 times higher than the maximum level proposed by the FDA.

Following these developments, the CDC recommends that anyone who has consumed the recalled pouches consult a healthcare provider. The agency highlighted the absence of any safe level of lead consumption, which can cause significant learning and behavioral problems.

The products in question are pouches marketed under the WanaBana label, available at Dollar Tree locations and online and those sold under the Schnucks and Weis brands in stores.

Due to their long shelf life, these products may still be found in consumers' homes. The public is advised not to eat or serve these pouches and to dispose of them immediately.

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