Tainted cinnamon applesauce pouches that have sickened scores of children in the U.S. may have been purposefully contaminated with lead, according to FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones.

“We’re still in the midst of our investigation. But so far all of the signals we’re getting lead to an intentional act on the part of someone in the supply chain and we’re trying to sort of figure that out,” Jones said in an exclusive interview. The pouches found to be contaminated were sold under three brands — Weis, WanaBana and Schnucks — that are all linked to a manufacturing facility in Ecuador. The FDA says it’s conducting an inspection of that facility.

“My instinct is they didn’t think this product was going to end up in a country with a robust regulatory process,” Jones said. “They thought it was going to end up in places that did not have the ability to detect something like this.”

    • gregorum
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      10 months ago

      And that doesn’t even tackle the problem of getting it pasteurized to rid it of microorganisms or trying to keep it shelfstable for more than a few days of transport, let alone getting it on the shelf long enough to be sold. 

      • squiblet
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        610 months ago

        Who’s trying to do that? I’m talking about feeding your kid an apple.

    • squiblet
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      10 months ago

      Sorry, I’ll provide more detailed instructions.

      • cut the apple in two. Remove the seeds and stem
      • add spices and maybe sugar
      • gently place it into a blender, with filtered water as needed
      • turn it on
      • pour it into something

      I guess if we’re dealing with people who don’t understand the basics of food, they might want to buy leaded applesauce from Ecuador since their kids are probably doomed anyway.

        • squiblet
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          310 months ago

          I’ve read that too. Spices aren’t contaminated to the extent of the sauces that were recalled though. I guess if you’re concerned, you can eat macrobiotic and/or test your soil and grow everything yourself. Of course not everyone can do that though and most climates won’t work for all spices or herbs.

            • Flying Squid
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              410 months ago

              Come on. What kid is going to have dill in a smoothie?

              Paprika. That’s what you put in a kids’ smoothie.

              • no banana
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                310 months ago

                Dill, parsley, chives and juniper grows here. What am I to do?

                • @[email protected]
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                  210 months ago

                  Just do as my grandmother did when she baby sat me and give me the child homemade gin until they stop fussing.

                • Flying Squid
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                  210 months ago

                  Guess your baby is going to starve.

                  Although parsley does make a good garnish to the dill apple baby food.

                • @[email protected]
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                  010 months ago

                  Get a cold frame for your peppers like everyone else in a cold environment, they grow field peppers in Quebec for heavens sake. Paprika is not out of your reach.

                  • no banana
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                    110 months ago

                    Of course paprika is doable. But dill seems like a great apple spice.

      • key
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        310 months ago

        That’ll give you a crappy excuse for applesauce. Got to peel, core, and slice the apples then cook it in the spices and cider until soft, then mash, sweeten, and reduce.

        • squiblet
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          510 months ago

          maybe if you want to preserve it but otherwise probably healthier to eat it raw. I’m fine with just puréed fruit.