State health official urges lead testing for children amid cinnamon applesauce recall

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -

An epidemiologist said parents should be aware of lead testing for their children as the state health department continues to look for people affected by a recalled food.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said it's identified five children that had lead poisoning connected to recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches in Missouri. The department would not release where the cases are specifically. Steve May with the Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology said testing a child's blood for lead is the best way to detect the problem.

"We recommend every child be tested annually up to the age of 3, preferably up to the age of 6 because that's really the only way to know," May said.

The CDC reports more than 200 cases of children getting sick from high levels of lead in WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis cinnamon applesauce pouches. The Food and Drug Administration says it noticed the lead contamination in an Ecuadorian processing facility for the cinnamon.

May said lead poisoning can cause lifelong complications for children, including numerous cognitive issues.