Dollar Tree failed to pull lead-contaminated applesauce for months

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.