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submitted 2 years ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

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.”

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[-] acceptable_pumpkin@lemmy.world 203 points 2 years ago

This is where those US based companies should get absolutely reamed. Want to profit off cheap labor and raw materials from developing countries with “lax” controls? Then you should face all consequences and lost profits. No “blaming” some other supplier.

[-] saze@feddit.uk 65 points 2 years ago

China executed mfers when companies sold tainted baby milk powder.

[-] MagicShel@programming.dev 40 points 2 years ago

I'm not a huge fan of China, but I'll admit they're doing at least one thing right.

[-] RestrictedAccount@lemmy.world 24 points 2 years ago

Lead is sweet. That’s why kids eat paint chips.

Someone saved money on sugar and biocide.

The reason why I tacked this on after your comment is that you are on to something.

[-] fiat_lux@kbin.social 21 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Sugar is way too cheap to use lead these days. 100 years ago this would have been plausible to me, but not today.

Lead is used as a plastic softener, and these packages were likely not rated for food usage and whoever bought them online hadn't checked for FDA approval for food safety before purchasing. It could have been something as simple as someone accidentally using the wrong materials in the factory too.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

I thought the lead was in the cinnamon used?

[-] fiat_lux@kbin.social 5 points 2 years ago

Oh yeah, I do remember hearing that. Still might be the packaging for whatever they ship the cinnamon in, but I do know that plants can also take up heavy metals in the soil, so multiple possible avenues for contamination. I'm sure the fda will figure it out.

[-] WoahWoah@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

You remember hearing that? Do you remember where? Was it maybe the article from this post? No, that couldn't be it, because you clearly didn't read it.

[-] fiat_lux@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago

A previous article posted, actually. This article was careful to mention they haven't decided on the source of contamination.

I have long covid memory problems, thanks for reminding me I'm still sick, I really didn't need that but here you are being helpful!

[-] sukhmel@programming.dev 5 points 2 years ago

Makes me wonder how much lead will flow into humans now that lead fuel is forbidden everywhere but lead food packaging is on the rise

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 10 points 2 years ago

Leaded fuel is forbidden for ground vehicles. It is still legal in airplane fuel.

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/20/aviation-lead-fuel-00081641

We have a lot more work to do.

[-] sukhmel@programming.dev 3 points 2 years ago

Oh, well, that's just another nice thing to learn about how everyone is fucked. I even think I read about that but forgot maybe because I wanted to beleave lead to be gone ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

Still, less overall lead in our environment and the crime rate has been dropping ever since we took it out of gasoline, so it's not all bad. Unfortunately, the world's leaders mostly come from the lead era.

[-] wildginger@lemmy.myserv.one 2 points 2 years ago

So thats what uncle eddie meant by chem trails

[-] iheartneopets@lemm.ee 6 points 2 years ago

"Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know Just Made A Great Point"

[-] Facebones@reddthat.com 3 points 2 years ago

A broken clock yadda yadda

[-] grayman@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

Only because they got caught. Everyone in the chain knew. The govt knew. They just got caught.

[-] Ryan213@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago
[-] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 6 points 2 years ago

Price of business

this post was submitted on 16 Dec 2023
357 points (100.0% liked)

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