Urgent recall of popular toddler fruit pouches over lead poisoning fears – the 7 signs to watch for

HEALTH officials are warning parents not to give their children popular pureed fruit pouches over fears they contain lead.

At least 22 toddlers in 14 US states were poisoned by lead linked to tainted pouches of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce.

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One affected child showed a blood lead level eight times higher than the level that raises concern, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

Reported symptoms included headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, a change in activity level, and anemia.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has since launched an investigation and recalled several affected batches.

This includes WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, Schnucks-brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches, Schnucks Apple Sauce pouches, and Weis-brand cinnamon applesauce pouches. 

These products can be found on Amazon, Dollar Tree, Schnucks and Eatwell Markets grocery stores, Weis grocery stores and multiple other online stores. 

Parents who’ve bought one of the affected products are being urged not to give them to their baby, it said.

Instead, customers should return them to the shop they were purchased from for a full refund.

Exposure to lead can be very harmful, especially to unborn babies and young children. 

It can lead to brain damage, seizures, unconsciousness, and death, according to the Mayo Clinic.

If parents suspect their child has been exposed to high levels of lead toxicity, the FDA recommends visiting a doctor and taking a blood lead test.