January 4, 2024
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is urging Minnesota physicians to ask patients and their families about whether they have consumed apple cinnamon puree pouches that were recalled in late October because of high levels of lead in those products. MDH is also asking pregnant patients about whether they have consumed recalled apple cinnamon puree, as adults may also consume these snacks.
The recalled brands, which include WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis, were sold at Dollar Trees and through Amazon.
So far, MDH has identified seven children with elevated blood lead levels who are classified as confirmed or probable cases, as part of this investigation. For five of these children, MDH conducted an in-home investigation and could not identify any other source of lead exposure. These children ranged in age from 10 months to two years.
None of the seven children identified would have been flagged as high risk for lead exposure on traditional questionnaires based on the age of their homes. Minnesota’s Childhood Blood Lead Screening Guidelines were revised in 2022 and now recommend testing all children around age 1 and 2, rather than relying on screening questions. Older children should receive a blood lead test if they have any risk factors.
MDH is concerned that older children may also be consuming recalled apple cinnamon puree pouches and are not being identified because they fall outside of the standard ages for blood lead testing.
For more information on the recall and investigation, visit the websites established by the FDA and CDC.
May 29, 2025
As the Legislature works to complete its work on the state’s two-year budget, another deadline is looming. Legislators are required to pass a balanced budget before the end of the fiscal year—June 30, 2025. If they don’t meet that deadline, the state will begin a partial shutdown.
May 29, 2025
Registration has opened for the Empowering Physicians: A Night of Reflection and Engagement event, featuring best-selling author Elisabeth Rosenthal, MD.
May 29, 2025
The AMA is encouraging physicians to contact their U.S. senators and urge them to revise the reconciliation bill passed recently by the U.S. House of Representatives. While the bill includes language that would stabilize Medicare physician payments, it also threatens to cripple Medicaid and CHIP.