MONEYWATCH
Dollar Tree failed to pull lead-contaminated applesauce for months, FDA says

By Kate Gibson
Edited By Anne Marie Lee
Updated on: June 18, 2024 / 4:59 PM EDT / CBS News

Applesauce pouches contaminated with heavy amounts of lead remained on Dollar Tree store shelves for nearly two months after being recalled and linked to hundreds of lead poisonings nationwide, according to federal regulators.

In the weeks and months that followed the recall of apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, public health officials across many states continued to report seeing recalled WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches on Dollar Tree store shelves, the Food and Drug Administration stated in a Tuesday update.

The discount chain continued selling cinnamon applesauce well after WanaBana USDA recalled all of its Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches on Oct. 29, 2023, "despite FDA's numerous attempts to bring this serious issue to your attention," the agency stated in a warning letter to the company's CEO, Rick Dreiling.

Through Dec. 19, 2023, the recall was ineffective at the retail level due to Dollar Tree's failure to pull the product, the agency stated. ... Reached for comment, Dollar Tree seemed to dispute the FDA's version of events.

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