Lead Levels in Children's Applesauce May Be Attributed to Cinnamon Additive

The F.D.A. is investigating sources of cinnamon and other ingredients produced outside the United States as a possible cause of lead poisoning in dozens of children. Advocates call for mandatory testing for lead in food.

As dozens of children across the United States suffer from lead poisoning, regulators Federal officials are now investigating whether the culprit is cinnamon that was added to some popular applesauce packets, and whether lead had been added somewhere along the global supply chain, either to enhance the reddish color spice, or to add weight.

In November, the Food and Drug Administration announced a national recall of three million bags of applesauce cinnamon made in Ecuador and sold in dollar stores and other outlets under the brand names WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis.

Concerns over poisoning cases , affecting up to 125 children, highlighted a broader gap within the F.D.A. food surveillance. There is no federal requirement to test foods manufactured domestically or imported into the United States for lead. In this case, a North Carolina Department of Health investigation identified the source of contamination after receiving reports of elevated lead levels in children's blood tests.

That lead levels in children's blood tend to be the first line of detection for lead in foods "effectively uses children as canaries," said Tom Neltner, senior director of chemicals safer at the Environmental Defense Fund, an advocacy group. He said the F.D.A. has not set enforceable limits for lead in foods, let alone spices.

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