We can now find out who is behind the lead-contaminated cinnamon in toddlers' fruit bags

Enlarge / THE three recalled pouches related has lead poisonings. FDA

A Spice up crusher appointed Carlos Aguilera of Ecuador East THE likely source of contaminated cinnamon containing extremely high levels of lead And chromium, which do It is path In THE apple cinnamon fruit pouches of WE toddlers, according to has A announcement by THE Food And Medicine Administration This week.

HAS date, there to have has been 413 case of poisoning through 43 WE States, according to has THE Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.

THE FDA said Ecuadorian civil servants has THE Agency National of Regulation, Control Yes Vigilance Sanitary (ARCSA) identified Aguilera as THE cinnamon processor And reported has THE FDA that her business East No longer Operating. Aquilera received raw cinnamon The sticks coming from Since Sri Lanka, which, according to has raw sample essay led by ARCSA, had No lead contamination on their arrival. After Aguilera treaty THE cinnamon, he was provided by A business called Negasmart has Austrofoods, THE maker of THE apple cinnamon pouches.

According to has FDA inspection documents got by CBS News, Austrofoods Never tested It is product For heavy metals has any of them indicate In production And Many times failed has identify THE cinnamon as A raw ingredient need such essay. "[You did not sample And test THE raw material Or THE finished product For heavy metals," THE FDA wrote In It is inspection report. Essay by THE FDA immediately identified high levels of lead In THE finished apple cinnamon mash potatoes And In THE ground cinnamon powder Austrofoods used For THE purees. THE regulator Also observed problems with Austrofood's pasteurization And sanitation procedures, And note equipment In poor condition that could to have allowed metal pieces has to break coward And get In food products.

Austrofood's apple cinnamon fruit mash potatoes pouches were sold below three brands, all of which to have has been recalled: WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit mash potatoes pouches, Schnucks brand cinnamon flavored Applesauce pouches, And Weiss brand cinnamon Applesauce pouches.

THE FDA reported that ARCSA investigation And legal procedure are always in progress has determine THE ultimate responsibility For THE contamination. THE FDA recognized that he has "limit authority on stranger ingredient Suppliers WHO TO DO not directly boat product has THE WE. This East because their food undergoes further manufacturing/processing Before has export. So, THE FDA can't take direct action with Negasmart Or Carlos Aguilera.”

Essay by THE FDA tips that THE cinnamon was contaminated with lead chromates, A vibrant YELLOW substance often used has bolster A spices appearance And weight artificially. It is frequently has been find contaminant turmeric coming from Since India And Bangladesh.

THE children exposed has THE purees confront uncertain long term health effects. THE effects of ingest chromium are not clear, And It is Also not clear What form of chromium THE children ingested Since THE pouches. Lead, on THE other hand, East A powerful neurotoxic metal that can Shame THE brain And nervous system. In young children, THE effects of acute exhibitions could manifest as learning And behavior problems, as GOOD as hearing And speech problems In THE years has come.

Last year, THE CDC reported that exposed children had watch blood lead levels as high as 29 micrograms by deciliter (µg/dL), more that eight times THE 3.5 µg/dL threshold THE agency considered THE cut For high exhibition.