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The Daily

How Poisoned Applesauce Found Its Way to Kids

Feb 29, 2024
Christina Jewett, an investigative journalist covering the FDA for The New York Times, delves into a startling scandal involving lead-tainted applesauce that endangered hundreds of children. She uncovers how this hazardous product slipped through the food safety system, revealing alarming flaws in regulations. The discussion highlights devastating family experiences, the long-term impacts of lead exposure, and the urgent need for reforms in food safety practices to protect vulnerable consumers.
25:11

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Contaminated applesauce with high lead levels poisoned hundreds of children, revealing gaps in food safety regulations.
  • Stringent oversight and enforcement of food safety laws are crucial to prevent toxic products from reaching consumers.

Deep dives

Discovered Lead Poisoning in Children

In a surprising discovery, families across the U.S. found their children with high levels of lead in their blood, leading to behavior and developmental problems. Through extensive testing, it was revealed that contaminated applesauce, a routine snack for kids, was the source of the lead poisoning. The contaminated apple sauce, widely consumed by children, contained significantly high levels of lead, triggering a recall of the product from stores. This incident highlighted the serious health risks posed by contaminated food products and the importance of stringent food safety measures.

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