AG: Stores in NY Continued to Sell Children’s Food Containing Lead
By Hank Russell
The Attorney General’s office fined a national discount chain approximately $560,000 for continuing to sell children’s food products despite a recall notice being issued that the products contained lead.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alleged that Dollar Tree sold the product in question at dozens of its New York stores for days following a nationwide recall. An investigation by the OAG found that, on October 29, 2023, Dollar Tree received direct notification that WanaBana-brand cinnamon applesauce pouches – largely marketed for babies and young children – were recalled nationwide due to dangerously high levels of lead.
Despite this notification, Dollar Tree failed to take immediate action – delaying for over 24 hours its activation of a “register lock” to prevent cashiers from completing sales of the recalled applesauce products and failing, for weeks at some stores, to remove the recalled products from all store shelves. In one instance, Dollar Tree even released the recalled applesauce pouches to an online purchaser a full week after the recall began.
The OAG found that Dollar Tree sold at least 226 three-pack units of the recalled applesauce in New York after receiving notice of the recall, including sales that occurred days later and even a full week afterward through online order pickup. State health data show that dozens of New York children suffered elevated blood lead levels linked to consumption of the WanaBana cinnamon applesauce products, with most families reporting purchases at Dollar Tree locations.
The OAG alleged that Dollar Tree’s delayed compliance with the recall violated several New York laws, including prohibitions on selling or displaying contaminated food, and laws governing deceptive business practices. As a result of the investigation, Dollar Tree will pay $559,250, representing roughly $2,474 per 3-pack unit sold in New York after the recall notice. The OAG will direct these funds to support lead poisoning prevention and response efforts, as well as to enhance access to healthy and affordable food in underserved New York communities.
In addition to the monetary penalty, Attorney General James is requiring Dollar Tree to overhaul its food safety and recall procedures in New York. Under the agreement, Dollar Tree must implement stronger recall protocols, including activating register “stop codes” within hours of a recall to prevent sales, enhancing recall training for New York store managers, and strengthening systems to notify customers who purchased food products online that were subsequently recalled. The company will be required to report back to OAG on its compliance.
Consumers who purchased the recalled WanaBana applesauce received refunds and reimbursements for out-of-pocket health care costs related to the lead-contaminated applesauce pouches.
As part of the settlement that took place on January 23, 2026, Dollar Tree must pay $559,250 in penalties, which will be used to strengthen lead poisoning prevention programs and expand access to healthy, affordable food in underserved New York communities. Dollar Tree must also overhaul its recall policies, including specialized recall training for its store managers in New York.
“Parents should never have to worry that the food they buy at the store could harm their children,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Dollar Tree’s failure to act quickly after learning these products were contaminated put New York families at serious risk. My office is holding Dollar Tree accountable and forcing meaningful changes to make sure recalled and dangerous products are removed from shelves immediately going forward. I will always take action to protect New York’s children from lead poisoning.”
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to Dollar Tree for comment. “The safety and trust of our customers and our associates remain our highest priority,” a company spokesperson said. “Since 2023, we have taken meaningful steps to strengthen our internal recall processes and protocols to support our compliance with all laws and regulations.”