(CNN) 鈥� The US Food and Drug Administration is warning parents against buying a brand of fruit puree pouches for their children聽after the snacks were found to have high levels of lead, the agency said.
Lead was found in WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, which are sold nationally at multiple retailers, including Sam鈥檚 Club, Amazon and Dollar Tree, the said.
鈥淧arents and caregivers of toddlers and young children who may have consumed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches should contact their child鈥檚 healthcare provider about getting a blood test,鈥� the FDA said.
Lead is toxic to humans and exposure to the substance can lead to developmental delays in children. Symptoms of lead exposure include headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting, anemia, muscle aches, irritability and fatigue, the agency said.
The issue came to light when North Carolina state health officials began investigating four children with elevated blood lead levels and found that the WanaBana pouches could be the common source of exposure, the FDA said.
Multiple lots of WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree were analyzed and North Carolina officials found 鈥渆xtremely high concentrations of lead,鈥� the FDA said.
The company has agreed to voluntarily recall all WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, regardless of expiration, the FDA added.
鈥淚f you have WanaBana brand apple cinnamon puree products in your home, do not eat them or feed them to your children. Dispose of the products immediately,鈥� the said.
CNN has reached out to WanaBana for comment.
Exposure to lead can seriously harm a child鈥檚 health and cause damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, as well as learning, hearing, speech and behavior problems, according to the said.
鈥淓ven low levels of lead in blood have been shown to negatively affect a child鈥檚 intelligence, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement,鈥� the CDC said.
Lead can be found throughout a child鈥檚 environment, including in homes built before were banned in 1978, according to the CDC. The metal can also be in some toys and jewelry.
How a child鈥檚 body handles exposure to lead varies based on their age, length of exposure and other factors, the CDC says. A blood lead test is the best way to assess a child鈥檚 exposure to lead, the center adds.
鈥淭he FDA is continuing to work with state officials and the firm, collecting additional information, and taking steps to remove all contaminated product from the market,鈥� the agency added.
The-CNN-Wire
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