They deny the death of children from eating applesauce in Cuba

Authorities denied the death of children in Cuba due to the ingestion of compotes with high lead content, in response to information recently spread on social networks.

The television journalistLazaro Manuel Alonso, spokesperson for the Cuban government, assured that “the statement that there are children in Cuba who have died from this cause is totally false,” alluding to news that has spread on social networks about thedeath of minors in the province of Mayabeque by consuming applesauces with high metal content.

"On the issue of compotes and the alleged deaths due to their ingestion, we have confirmed that the statement that there are children in Cuba who have died from this cause is totally false," Alonso said.

However, the reporter revealed that “there is ainternational alert for applesauce, which was detained in the United States for detecting a high lead content,” and published a communication from the Ministry of Public Health, dated November 16, warning about the case.

“Cuba, like the rest of the countries, received this alert, and consequently, the Ministry of Public Health has given the indication to be attentive and check in all provinces in case the product entered the country. No imports of said products have been confirmed.food and therefore it is false that there are deaths in Mayabeque for the same cause,” Alonso insisted.

In a publication the day before, without citing the sources of his information, the official journalist said: “Take it easy that this is false news circulating on social networks. There are no children who died in Mayabeque from drinking any applesauce.”

TheMINSAP health alert paradoxicallybecomes public 12 days after issue, and only after alarm had been unleashed among many Cubans due to the rumors spread through social networks.

The official statement, signed by Dr.Mayra Martí Pérez, national head of Food Hygiene and Nutrition of the MINSAP, warns the provincial heads of Food that aalert about the product Apple Puree, from the Republic of Ecuador, which was retained in the US due to a high lead (Pb) content being detected, taking into account the destination of this product for consumption."

The officialordered “to immediately carry out a review in all provinces to detect whether the importation [of] this product, both in state centers and in non-state management forms (TPCP and MSMEs).”

Likewise, he indicated, if the compote has been imported, “proceed to retain it and immediately inform the Department of Food Hygiene and Nutrition, of the DNSA [National Directorate of Environmental Health].”

In previous days, a note was shared in social media groups and pages stating that children had died in Mayabeque after eating applesauce that had been sold in self-employed businesses.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched an alert and is investigating “imports of cinnamon from several countries to detect whether they have toxic effects on some foods, afterElevated Lead Levels Found in WanaBana Cinnamon Applesauce Bags” noted the siteAmerica Retail.

The note explains that WanaBana LLC of Coral Gables, Florida, received shipments of Austrofood cinnamon applesauce, from a manufacturer in Ecuador. In late October, the company voluntarily recalled all bags of cinnamon applesauce, “due to possible lead contamination.”

Because of this, the FDA “examines cinnamon from a manufacturer in Ecuador, which is a ‘likely source’ of high levels of lead found in recalled applesauce bags linked to illnesses in at least 34 children in 22 states,” according toAbc7.

In 2022,Health authorities in Havana denied information on social networks that claimed that four children were admitted to intensive care at the "Ramón González Coro" Gynecobstetric Hospital for having consumed cookies with drugs. A communication from the hospital center stated that it was false news to discredit Cuban Public Health.