The Food and Drug Administration recently announced that they have increased the warning regarding contaminated fruit pouches due to reports of lead poisoning cases.

The recall has been broadened to encompass Schnucks and Weis store brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches, as well as those manufactured by WanaBana and sold at Sam’s Club, Amazon and Dollar Tree, among other stores.

According to the FDA, any recalled apple cinnamon pouch should not be consumed, and instead should be disposed of promptly.

The State of North Carolina investigated four children with high lead levels in the blood and the FDA issued a warning due to the potential of acute lead toxicity. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services identified the WanaBana fruit puree pouches as a possible cause of this issue.

Testing of the pouches revealed that the levels of lead present were dangerously high, enough to cause lead poisoning in young children.

Seven instances of sickness have been reported to the FDA in connection to the recalled pouches.

The Food and Drug Administration has reported that even small amounts of lead in the bloodstream can lead to permanent cognitive damage in children. Typically no outward signs will be present, but if parents are concerned that their child may have encountered lead, they should consult their doctor about obtaining a blood test.

Lead toxicity may bring about short-term effects like headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting and anemia, according to the FDA. Additionally, the agency states that the poisoning can have longer-term repercussions such as irritability, lethargy and fatigue.

Both WanaBana and Schnucks stated that customers looking to receive a reimbursement can take their items back to the store they purchased them from.