Another Wanabana class action claims company failed to disclose lead in applesauce, fruit puree pouches

Wanabana class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Eighteen plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against Wanabana LLC and Wanabana USA LLC.
• Why: They claim Wanabana failed to disclose that its applesauce and fruit puree pouches contained high levels of lead.
• Where: The Wanabana lead class action lawsuit was filed in Florida federal court.

Eighteen plaintiffs have filed a new Wanabana class action lawsuit alleging the company failed to disclose the high levels of lead in its applesauce and fruit puree pouches.

The Wanabana lead concerns stem from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s public health alert in October that warned consumers of elevated levels of lead that had been detected in certain Wanabana pouches.

The FDA was reportedly notified about Wanabana lead concerns following a North Carolina investigation into the cases of four children in the state who were found to have high levels of lead in their blood that were linked to the apple cinnamon fruit puree Wanabana pouches.

Lead is a heavy metal with well-documented harmful health effects, the Wanabana class action lawsuit explains. The adverse health effects are particularly harmful to children and may put them at risk for a lower IQ, behavioral problems, type 2 diabetes, cancer and other potential health issues.

Wanabana voluntarily recalled certain units of Wanabana Apple cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches on Oct. 29 and subsequently expanded the recall to include all lots of the products, according to the class action lawsuit.

There have been 46 confirmed cases of lead toxicity associated with the recalled products in the last two months, the plaintiffs argue, and many more probable cases of Wanabana lead toxicity that have not been confirmed.

The Wanabana lead contamination was reportedly linked to cinnamon supplied by a third-party distribution company in Ecuador.

Wanabana pouches were not sufficiently monitored for safety, plaintiffs allege

The plaintiffs claim Wanabana failed to sufficiently monitor its products for the presence of lead despite being aware of the risk. At the same time, the company promoted the “high quality” and “highest standards” for ensuring the quality and safety of its products, the complaint says.

“Information regarding the true nature and/or presence of dangerous materials like lead in the products was and is in the exclusive possession of Wanabana and not available to consumers,” the Wanabana class action lawsuit asserts.

The plaintiffs claim they would not have purchased Wanabana pouches, or would not have paid as much for them, had they known they potentially contained high levels of lead that could cause significant health problems.

The Wanabana class action lawsuit asserts claims for negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty and violations of various state laws.

One of the latest Wanabana class action lawsuits was filed on Dec. 21.

What do you think about the allegations in this Wanabana class action lawsuit? Join the discussion in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Jack Scarola and Datherine A. Kiziah of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA and Edward H. Maginnis and Karl S. Gwaltney of Maginnis Howard.

The Wanabana pouches class action lawsuit is Jennifer Bell, et al. v. Wanabana LLC, et al., Case No. 1:23-cv-24861, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division.

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