Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42516822›Full record

ArticleJournal of environmental health2026

International Investigation of Lead and Chromium Contamination in Imported Apple Puree.

Natalie Cataldo, Brett D Weed, Kailey Lewis, Margaret Kirchner, Katherine Arnold, Larry Michael, Arthur Chang, Johnni H Daniel, Scott Shone, Lauren Yeung and 16 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of environmental health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

26 authors.

Natalie CataldoHuman Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration.
Brett D WeedHuman Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration.
Kailey LewisHuman Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration.
Margaret KirchnerHuman Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration.
Katherine ArnoldHuman Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration.
Larry MichaelNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Arthur ChangNational Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Johnni H DanielNational Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Scott ShoneNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Lauren YeungHuman Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration.
Julia MangiaNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Alyssa TroeschelNational Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Juan MoralesOffice of Inspections and Investigations, Food and Drug Administration.
Kevin M KubachkaNational Forensic Chemistry Center, Food and Drug Administration.
Mark WitkowskiNational Forensic Chemistry Center, Food and Drug Administration.
Lawrence SchauflerHuman Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration.
Eileen AbtHuman Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration.
Scott PauleyNational Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Perri RuckartNational Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Michael YehNational Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Trina L WilliamsNational Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Patrick GrayHuman Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration.
Daniel HurtHuman Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration.
Monique SalterHuman Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration.
Michele HowardOffice of Inspections and Investigations, Food and Drug Administration.
Stic HarrisHuman Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration.

Funding

Intramural FDA HHS FD999999
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In October 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was notified about four children in North Carolina who had high blood lead levels that were associated with consumption of apple cinnamon fruit puree from pouches. FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state and local partners, launched an international investigation into the source of lead contamination. FDA received 90 consumer complaints from 32 states, while CDC identified 556 cases of high blood lead levels with a variety of symptoms in 44 states. Novel laboratory methods were developed to identify the specific contaminant: lead chromate. Testing of products produced in Ecuador found lead concentrations 100- to 600-times above the FDA action level. The traceback investigation identified a cinnamon processor as the likely source of the contaminant. The investigation found that the lead and chromium in the apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches were likely due to lead chromate found in the ground cinnamon. The investigation led to the recall of these apple puree products and enhanced surveillance of cinnamon. The findings highlight the potential for children to be exposed to toxic elements from nontraditional sources and could help inform blood lead investigations in children.

Indexed as

chemical hazardschildhood lead poisoningeconomically motivated adulterationfood adulterationfood safetyleadoutbreak investigation

Identifiers

PMID42516822
PMCPMC13403189

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.