St. Louis County is offering lead testing to residents who may have eaten recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches contaminated with lead. On Nov. 3, 2023, the FDA issued a public health alert about WanaBana, Schnucks and other apple cinnamon fruit purée pouches that may contain high levels of lead. Lead can damage a child’s brain and slow their learning and development. Walk-in lead screening is available M-F at all three St. Louis County clinics from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. The screening includes a blood draw. It can be billed to insurance or costs $29 for those without insurance.

Four children in North Carolina were found to have elevated lead levels in their blood. An investigation found that the source of lead exposure was WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit purée pouches.

A further investigation by North Carolina health officials and the FDA found multiple lots of the WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit pouches to have high levels of lead.

WanaBana voluntarily recalled the apple cinnamon fruit pouches regardless of lot or expiration date, and the FDA is working with state officials to remove all of these products from store shelves.

Parents are advised not to buy or feed these WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit pouches to their children.

If a child may have consumed one of these apple cinnamon fruit pouches from WanaBana, officials say that parents should talk to their healthcare provider about having their child’s blood tested for lead.

St. Louis County is offering lead screening at the following health centers: John C. Murphy (6121 North Hanley Road, Berkeley, MO 63134), North Central Community (4000 Jennings Station Road, Pine Lawn, MO 63121), and South County (4580 South Lindbergh Blvd., Sunset Hills, MO 63127) Mondays through Fridays between 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Those without insurance will pay $29.

Most children have no obvious immediate symptoms of lead poisoning, and a blood test is the only way to diagnose lead exposure. If high levels are found, treatments are available.

While it can be hard to see obvious symptoms of lead exposure in children, some signs of short-term poisoning include headache, abdominal pain, headache, and anemia.

Parents and caregivers who have purchased WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit pouches may return them for a full refund.

Officials and WanaBana are still working to discover the source of the lead poisoning in this product.