Publix recalls baby food pouches after testing finds elevated levels of lead

By JONEL ALECCIA AP Soundness Writer The supermarket chain Publix has recalled fruit and vegetable baby food sold in eight states because product testing located elevated levels of lead according to federal wellness leaders Publix recalled -ounce Greenwise Pear Kiwi Spinach Pea Baby Food pouches sold at more than stores The pouches were produced by Bowman Andros a French company with a manufacturing plant in Mount Jackson Virginia according to the company s website Publix issued the voluntary recall on May but it wasn t added to the U S Food and Drug Administration recall list until late Thursday The possible contamination was flagged by authorities in North Carolina the state that first identified a lead poisoning outbreak linked to tainted applesauce pouches that sickened more than U S children Routine sampling of the baby food pouches revealed lead levels at parts per billion according to North Carolina agriculture executives That exceeds the FDA s recommended limit of parts per billion for such products intended for babies and young children Publix disclosed all the potentially contaminated products have been removed from store shelves No illnesses have been published the company stated Customers can return the pouches to local stores for full refund This is the second baby food pouch recall because of expected lead contamination in two months In March Target recalled more than packages of its store brand Good Gather Baby Pea Zucchini Kale Thyme Vegetable Puree because of elevated lead levels North Carolina collaborates with the FDA to conduct routine testing of food products personnel declared Related Articles Weight-loss drugs may lower cancer liability in people with diabetes a evaluation suggests RFK Jr s MAHA summary raises concerns about vaccines American foods and prescription drugs FDA panel is split on updates to COVID shots as questions loom for fall vaccinations Measles is very contagious Here s how to avoid it Medtronic to spin off diabetes business form new company In state vitality leaders investigated reports of lead poisoning in four children who consumed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree Those findings led to the detection of a nationwide outbreak linked to the pouches which were widely sold in Dollar Tree and other stores Tests demonstrated they contained lead at levels times higher than the FDA s maximum recommended level as well as chromium Federal robustness leaders eventually identified cases of validated probable or suspected cases of lead poisoning tied to the pouches in states The U S Centers for Complaint Control and Prevention s childhood lead poisoning plan investigated the applesauce outbreak and coordinated state and federal response However the activity was eliminated in April as part of federal funding cuts under the Trump administration CDC bureaucrats didn t say whether or how the agency would respond to a similar outbreak now A spokesperson reported the agency is aware of the Publix baby food recall but hasn t been demanded to assist with any probe There is no safe level of lead exposure according to CDC While the heavy metal is toxic to people of all ages it can be especially harmful to children causing damage to the brain and nervous system and slow development and enhancement Heavy metals like lead can get into food products from soil air water or industrial processes according to the American Academy of Pediatrics The Associated Press Wellness and Science Department receives endorsement from the Howard Hughes Medicinal Institute s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation The AP is solely responsible for all content