The Food and Drug Administration shared on Friday that any child who consumed the recalled lead-contaminated WanaBana cinnamon applesauce pouches may also have been exposed to chromium, a heavy metal.
The news was shared in a recall notice by the FDA, which noted that samples of the recalled product were tested as part of an investigation into cases of lead poisoning in the United States that were linked to the applesauce.
The testing resulted in the agency finding trace amounts of the metal chromium inside it and the other products recalled, which included Schnucks applesauce pouches with cinnamon and Weis cinnamon applesauce.
As of Dec. 29, there had been 287 confirmed, probable, and suspected reports of elevated blood lead levels linked to the pouches across 37 states, the CDC shared.
The FDA was unable to identify which form of chromium was in the pouches, as it naturally occurs in two forms: chromium-3, an essential nutrient, and chromium-6, a known carcinogen, according to the CDC.
Still, the FDA shared that the ratio of lead to chromium found in the samples suggested it may be chromium-6, though testing limitations made it unable for the agency to confirm.
However, the levels of chromium found in the applesauce pouches were over five times the Environmental Protection Agency’s limit for drinking water. But, there is no FDA limit for chromium in foods.
The FDA said it is unclear whether children exposed to the metal are at risk of serious health problems, as information on the health effects of eating food contaminated with chromium-6 is limited.
Some might not experience any symptoms after consuming the metal, and others may experience abdominal pain, vomiting, kidney and liver dysfunction, diarrhea, and nausea, the FDA said.
The FDA is advising parents with children impacted by the recall to inform their healthcare provider about the potential risk.