Products Liability
This page is about WanaBana lead lawsuits and how to bring a claim.
A significant recall of WanaBana fruit pouches was initiated due to elevated lead levels discovered by the FDA in certain samples of WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Purée pouches. This recall encompasses all WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Purée pouches, regardless of their expiration date.
This is lead. There is no safe level of lead for children. On October 28, 2023, the FDA released a public health advisory, followed by an announcement of a product recall the next day.
In response to this finding, the FDA urgently advised parents and caregivers to immediately stop giving these pouches to children and safely discard any remaining products. Furthermore, the FDA strongly recommended that toddlers and young children who might have consumed the recalled pouches undergo a blood test to check for potential lead exposure, advising consultation with a healthcare provider.
Lead poisoning is a severe health issue associated with various complications such as developmental delays, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and, in extreme cases, even fatality. Lead, a toxic metal, can cause damage to the nervous system, particularly in children.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by this recall and requires legal advice or assistance, please reach out to our law firm at 800-553-8082 or contact us online.
Wanabana Lead Poisoning News and Updates
March 26, 2024: In the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, WanaBana LLC and its counterpart argued against a motion by parents to remand a lawsuit alleging lead in their cinnamon-flavored applesauce. The companies maintained that they fulfilled the procedural requirements for the case to stay in federal court, emphasizing that federal statutes and precedents require only a brief statement of grounds for removal. The contention partly lies in the challenge of an affidavit regarding the companies’ foreign citizenship, which parents claim is insufficient for federal jurisdiction based on diversity of citizenship.
March 15, 2024: We posted new Wanabana lawsuit update video that discusses where we are in the litigation and potential settlement amounts for victims.
February 1, 2024: A couple from North Carolina has filed the latest Wanabana lawsuit claiming that both the company and Dollar Tree, the retailer, should have been aware of the dangers associated with selling cinnamon-based apple food pouches that have now been recalled. These pouches have allegedly exposed their two children, along with many others, to dangerous levels of lead.
January 10, 2024: The FDA has received 87 reports of adverse events linked to a recalled product, affecting individuals from newborns to 53 years old. The CDC is also investigating, having identified 321 cases across 38 states. Both agencies use different data sources, and there may be overlap in the individuals reported. The investigations focus on determining the contamination source and identifying any additional affected products, with ongoing updates expected from both the FDA and CDC.
January 9, 2024: The FDA has discovered chromium contamination in recalled cinnamon apple products and the cinnamon sourced from Austrofoods in Ecuador. Analysis revealed chromium levels of 1201 and 531 ppm in cinnamon samples and 0.590 and 0.566 ppm in WanaBana Cinnamon Apple Puree. Testing also included arsenic and cadmium, but these were not found above trace levels.
Chromium, a naturally occurring element, is essential in the diet but exists in two forms: chromium (III) and the more toxic chromium (VI). The FDA couldn’t definitively identify the chromium form in the apple puree. Parents are angry and want answers. If you have a concern, getting your child tested for heavy metals is a really good idea.
December 23, 2023: WanaBana LLC is facing a new class action lawsuit after recalling cinnamon applesauce pouches due to high lead levels. This WanaBana lawsuit, which is not a brain injury or other personal injury claim, claims consumers were unaware of the neurotoxin’s presence in the products.
The lead plaintiff seeks monetary damages and a blood testing program for early detection of lead-related health issues on behalf of others in this WanaBana class action lawsuit. The FDA’s investigation linked elevated blood lead levels in children to these products, prompting a public health alert and recall.
WanaBana is also facing a similar lawsuit in North Carolina. The company has not yet to file answer to this lawsuit.
December 22, 2023: The FDA has documented a minimum of 65 cases of increased blood lead levels in children younger than 6 years, linked to the consumption of contaminated products.
That is 65 DOCUMENTED. How many other cases are there out there where the victims have no clue?
These have been sent to the FDA as adverse events directly submitted to them, indicating blood lead levels equal to or exceeding 3.5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of whole blood (μg/dL) within a three-month period following the intake of the these toxic foods.
December 20, 2023: There is a concern that the recalled WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree is still on the shelves at some Family Dollar-Dollar Tree stores.
December 18, 2023: The FDA revealed today that a sample of cinnamon, an ingredient in the recalled WanaBana fruit puree, was tested and discovered to have exceeded more than 2,000 times the permissible safe limits for lead.
November 22, 2023: The Food and Drug Administration reported that the count of potential illnesses associated with the recalled apple/cinnamon pouches has risen to 52, affecting individuals aged between 1 and 4 years old.
Continuing its review process for incoming cases, the agency cautions consumers about the presence of one of the recalled products, WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Purée, found on shelves in multiple Dollar Tree stores across the United States.
Collaborating with the retailer, the FDA is actively working to eliminate the recalled products from the shelves. For further information, the original article and subsequent updates can be found below.
November 16, 2023: The FDA has reported at least 34 illnesses potentially associated with the recalled apple/cinnamon pouches. Their tests revealed lead levels 200 times higher than the FDA’s acceptable standard in a sample pouch of WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Purée from a Dollar Tree store.
The probable cause seems to be contaminated cinnamon from Ecuador, and the agency is collaborating with authorities there as part of its investigation. While the FDA doesn’t have indications that the problem extends beyond the recalled products, it’s proactively screening cinnamon shipments from various countries for lead contamination as a precautionary measure.
Furthermore, the FDA reminded parents that sample tests of fruit purée pouches from WanaBana, Weis, and Schnucks, which do not contain cinnamon and were not recalled by the companies, have not exhibited increased levels of lead.
November 10, 2023: How was the WanaBana lead problem discovered? The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services found a link in four cases of children with high blood lead levels, suggesting a risk of acute lead poisoning. Investigations pinpointed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches as a possible common source of this exposure.
November 6, 2023: The Food and Drug Administration has announced the recall of two more cinnamon-applesauce products due to significantly elevated lead levels. These include specific Schnucks cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches and variety packs available in stores located in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. Additionally, certain cinnamon-applesauce pouches sold under the Weis supermarket brand name are also included in the recall.
WanaBana Poisoning Lawsuits
Individuals who experienced lead poisoning due to consuming tainted WanaBana products have the option to pursue a product liability lawsuit to seek financial compensation. Manufacturers of these products can be strictly liable for such contaminations, making the manufacturer clearly accountable in these instances. Presently, there isn’t a class action or MDL (Multi-District Litigation) established, but individual consumers retain the right to initiate civil lawsuits.
These Cases Are About Lead Contamination
There is no safe level of lead. Lead ingestion in children is to be avoided at all costs. The injuries from lead exposure can lead to brain and nervous system injuries. Scientists disagree about about just about everything. But no one argues with this premise.
The most alarming aspect of lead exposure is its potential to cause cognitive and developmental delays. Children exposed to lead, even in small amounts, may experience reduced IQ, attention span, and academic achievement. These neurological effects are often irreversible and can have a lifelong impact. Additionally, lead exposure can result in behavioral problems, such as increased aggression, hyperactivity, and difficulty with impulse control.
So it is not exactly a stretch to think that a child consuming a product that is 2,000 times more then the safe amount of lead could cause real brain injuries.
Are those injuries for lead immediately obvious? No. The insidious nature of lead poisoning is that symptoms may not be immediately apparent, and by the time they are noticed, significant damage may have already occurred.
Where Will WanaBana Lawsuits Be Filed?
You will see WanaBana lead lawsuits filed in federal court. You may also see some claims filed in Florida because that is where the company is incorporated?
Is There a WanaBana Class Action Lawsuit?
There is a WanaBana class action lawsuit for consumer claims and for medical monitoring for victims who do not have proof of lead exposure. There has not been an effort for a consolidated litigation called an MDL for the injury claims yet. That may change in 2024. In the meantime, victims are filing individual lawsuits.
Hire a Lawyer
Our WanaBana lawyers are handling only claims where a child has elevated lead levels from the using WanaBana products. If your child has been injured, reach out to our law firm today at 800-553-8082. Alternatively, you can contact us online for further assistance and guidance. Our committed team is available to help you navigate through this challenging situation to seek justice for your family.