News

May 13, 2026

Pennsylvania Key’s May Health Trend is Preventing Children from Lead Exposure

Lead is highly toxic to neural development in infants and young child – and exposure to lead in older housing, water infrastructure, and air pollution especially affects families in low-income communities.

The Pennsylvania Key’s health trend of the month for May focuses on preventing lead poisoning in young children.

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Lead exposure can cause permanent damage to the developing brains of fetuses and children, the Pennsylvania Key notes, as well as a variety of life-long impacts to health.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the World Health Organization agree that there is no safe level of lead exposure.

Lead exposure can cause permanent damage to fetuses and young children, including:

Low birth weight and related complications
Slowed growth and development
A loss of IQ points
Learning and behavior problems
Hearing and speech problems
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
In adults, it can affect the kidneys and reproductive systems, cause heart disease, and lead to fatal heart attacks.

Lead-based paint hazards are frequently found in homes built before 1978. Children can ingest lead dust by putting objects such as toys and dirt in their mouths and can be poisoned when they swallow or breathe in lead dust. Windowsills and wells can also contain high levels of lead dust, so they should be kept free of dust.

Some toys and jewelry imported from other countries might contain lead, while some imported ceramics and glazed dishes made in the United States prior to the 1990s might also contain lead.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert about ground cinnamon sold in 2024 by a number of brands at six different retail chains. Samples of the products were tested by the FDA and were found to contain elevated levels of lead.

Water can absorb lead from pipes, fixtures, and solder located in the plumbing. Public water is regulated to ensure that it is lead-free – however, tens of millions of people nationwide drink tap water served by lead pipes.

Pennsylvania ranks fifth nationally for housing built before 1950, when lead-based paint was common.

For more information, visit The Pennsylvania Key’s website.

Lead Testing

The Shapiro Administration is launching a free water sampling program for eligible schools and child care facilities to test for lead in drinking water.

In partnership with Terraphase Engineering, the program offers free water testing and, for those with elevated lead levels, grants to support lead-reduction activities, such as installing hydration stations. Eligible applicants could receive up to $3,000 per hydration station.

Schools and child care centers that meet the criteria are encouraged to apply. More details about the grant is available on the Pennsylvania Key’s website.

News

November 28, 2023

Recalled Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches Causing High Blood Lead Levels in Children

Various recalled cinnamon apple purée and applesauce products with elevated lead levels have been reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The recalled products have been the cause of 52 reported cases of illness in children, as of November 22.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to advise clinicians and health departments to report cases to their local health authorities.

Background

FDA, CDC, and state and local partners are investigating a potential link between high blood lead levels and consuming certain cinnamon-containing apple purée and applesauce products.

State partners tested multiple lots of the reported products, and test results indicated the products contained extremely high levels of lead. WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis have initiated voluntary recalls of certain lots of the following products:

WanaBana brand apple cinnamon fruit purée pouches
Schnucks brand cinnamon applesauce pouches
Weis brand cinnamon applesauce pouches

More Information

More information about the specific recalled products may be found on the FDA’s website: Investigation of Elevated Lead Levels: Applesauce Pouches (November 2023) | FDA

News

April 24, 2023

April Recalls on Children’s Products

Parents and caregivers should be aware of several child-related product recalls.

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Here is a list of April recalls collected from the following major federal agencies: the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Rollerblade USA recalled Rollerblade® Fury Inline Skates and Rollerblade® Fury Brake Supports due to fall hazard.
Lucky Global recalled Lelinta Multi-Purpose Kids Helmets due to risk of head injury. Sold exclusively on Walmart.com.
Lil Anglers recalled Children’s Fishing Rods Sold with Kid Casters No Tangle Combos due to violation of federal lead content ban.
Bagno Milano recalled Children’s Robes due to violation of federal flammability standards and burn hazard.
NewCosplay recalled Children’s Sleepwear due to violation of federal flammability standards and burn hazard. Sold exclusively at Amazon.com.
FunnyPaja recalled Children’s Bathrobes due to violation of federal flammability standards and burn hazard. Sold exclusively at Amazon.com.
Arshiner recalled Children’s Nightgowns due to violation of federal flammability standards and burn hazard. Sold exclusively on Amazon.com.
Goumi recalled Children’s Robes due to violation of federal flammability standards and burn hazard.
IKEA recalled BLAVINGAD Fishing Games due to choking hazard.
Monti Kids recalled Basket with Balls/Toys due to choking hazard.
Jetson Electric Bikes recalled 42-Volt Rogue Self-Balancing Scooters/Hoverboards due to fire hazard. Two deaths reported.
Delta Enterprise Corp. recalled 2-in-1 Outdoor Kids Swings due to fall hazard.
Cannondale recalled Tesoro Neo X Speed Electric Bicycles due to fall and injury hazards.
Open Cycle recalled UP Ekar, UPPER Ekar, WIDE Ekar and MIND Ekar Bicycles due to crash hazard.
Rico Perez Products, Inc. recalled 60-count bottles of Dr. Rico Perez Super Kids Colostrum Chewable Tablets due to undeclared milk allergen.

More Information

For recall details, visit the links above or review the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites.

News

November 10, 2021

FDA Authorizes COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use for Children Five to 11

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 to include children five through 11 years of age. The authorization was based on the FDA’s thorough and transparent evaluation of the data that included input from independent advisory committee experts who overwhelmingly voted in favor of making the vaccine available to children in this age group.

About the COVID-19 Vaccine

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children five through 11 years of age is administered as a two-dose primary series, three weeks apart, but is a lower dose (10 micrograms) than that used for individuals 12 years of age and older (30 micrograms).

In the U.S., COVID-19 cases in children five through 11 years of age make up 39% of cases in individuals younger than 18 years of age. According to the CDC, approximately 8,300 COVID-19 cases in children five through 11 years of age resulted in hospitalization. As of Oct. 17, 691 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in the U.S. in individuals less than 18 years of age, with 146 deaths in the five through 11 years age group.

Pfizer Inc. has updated its safety monitoring plan to include evaluation of myocarditis, pericarditis and other events of interest in children five through 11 years of age. In addition, the FDA and the CDC have several systems in place to continually monitor COVID-19 vaccine safety and allow for the rapid detection and investigation of potential safety problems.

Additional Information

Additional information on the COVID-19 vaccine can be found on the FDA website.

News

July 16, 2020

FDA Warning: Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol

About

On July 2, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning that there has been a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products labeled to contain ethanol (a.k.a. ethyl alcohol) but have tested positive for methanol contamination. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and toxic or life-threatening when ingested.

Understanding the Risk

Methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxic side effects. The FDA is aware of instances where adults and children ingested contaminated hand sanitizers that have led to blindness, hospitalization, and death. The FDA’s investigation of methanol in certain hand sanitizers is still ongoing.

Risks are especially high for young children who accidentally ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute. Please do not ingest any type of hand sanitizer, regardless of whether or not it is contaminated with methanol.

Receiving Medical Attention

Individuals exposed to hand sanitizers containing methanol who are experiencing symptoms should seek immediate treatment for potential methanol poisoning. Substantial exposure to methanol can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system, or death.

If you need to report adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of hand sanitizers, contact the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or through a printable form that can be submitted via fax at 1.800.332.0178.

More Information

A list of hand sanitizer products to avoid can be found on the FDA website. For more information, see the full update.