"FDA Faces Pressure Over Lead-Tainted Applesauce Recalls"

The FDA found that the manufacturer of the recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches, Austrofood S.A.S., failed to test its product for heavy metals, including lead, which has been linked to at least 385 cases of lead poisonings across the U.S. The company also did not draw up plans to mitigate the risk of contamination from the cinnamon it was buying and had shortfalls in its pasteurization and sanitation procedures. The FDA is investigating whether the lead was intentionally added to the cinnamon supplied to Austrofood for economic gain and has disputed statements by Ecuador's health authorities about the recall.