A staff reportNorth Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is joining forces with 20 other attorneys general to advocate for increased federal oversight after recent food inspections uncovered alarming levels of lead and metal in cinnamon applesauce pouches.Stein is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take immediate action. In a statement, Stein expressed concern over the lack of mandatory testing for toxic metals in baby food, stating, “It’s unsettling that companies aren’t already testing baby food for toxic metals and lead. The FDA needs to act now to protect our kids from dangerous products.”The coalition of attorneys general is calling on the FDA to implement regulations requiring the baby food industry to conduct thorough testing of all finished food products for lead and other toxic metals.Recent incidents have highlighted the urgency of this issue, with nearly 400 cases of childhood lead poisoning traced back to recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches that were distributed without prior testing for toxic metals.Numerous brands, including WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis, have issued recalls for their cinnamon applesauce pouches. The FDA advises consumers who have purchased these products to discard them immediately. Currently, baby food manufacturers are not mandated by the FDA to test their products for toxic metals and other contaminants.Attorney General Stein emphasized the heightened risks associated with lead contamination in food, particularly for children in low-income communities who may already be exposed to lead from sources such as paint and drinking water pipes. Stein stressed that lead in food compounds these health risks for vulnerable populations.Lead is a highly toxic substance with no safe level of exposure. Its effects are not immediately apparent but can lead to developmental delays in children. Initial symptoms of lead poisoning include headaches, stomach pain, muscle weakness, vomiting, anemia, irritability, fatigue, and weight loss.Stein and his fellow attorneys general are committed to advocating for stricter regulations to safeguard the health and well-being of children across the country.
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