Popular organic kids' snacks found to contain high levels of lead: Consumer Reports
What specific brands and products were identified by Consumer Reports as containing high levels of lead in children's snacks?
Consumer Reports identified two popular brands of kids' snacks that contain elevated levels of lead. The brands are LesserEvil and Serenity Kids. The specific products found to have high levels of lead are:
- LesserEvil's Lil' Puffs Intergalactic Voyager Veggie Blend puffs
- LesserEvil's Lil' Puffs Sweet Potato Apple Asteroid puffs
- Serenity Kids' Tomato & Herb, Bone Broth puffs
It is important to note that the Once Upon a Farm products tested had "very low" levels of lead, accounting for some of the lowest levels of all the baby food Consumer Reports has ever tested.
How do the lead levels in these snacks compare to the maximum allowable dose levels (MADLs) established by California Proposition 65?
The lead levels in the tested snacks vary when compared to the maximum allowable dose levels (MADLs) established by California Proposition 65. LesserEvil's Lil' Puffs Intergalactic Voyager Veggie Blend puffs contained lead levels at 112% of the MADLs2. LesserEvil's Lil' Puffs Sweet Potato Apple Asteroid had lead levels at 60% of the MADLs, while Serenity Kids' Tomato & Herb, Bone Broth puffs contained lead levels at 53% of the MADLs. The Once Upon a Farm products tested had very low levels of lead, some of the lowest levels of all the baby food Consumer Reports has ever tested.
How does lead naturally occur in soil, and how does it affect the concentration of lead in root vegetables like cassava?
Lead naturally occurs in soil due to the weathering of the earth's crust and various human activities, such as the use of lead-based paint, leaded gasoline, and lead arsenate pesticides. These activities have contributed to increased levels of lead in soil, particularly in urban areas and near older homes2. The amount of lead present in the soil and the root volume/size/area affect the uptake by plants3. Lead uptake by plants depends on the root system conditions and the form of lead present in the soil3.
In root vegetables like cassava, lead can accumulate in the plant's roots, which can be problematic since the lead does not move well beyond the root3. Cassava can be processed into flour and baked into snack foods, which may concentrate the lead levels. The concentration of lead in root vegetables is influenced by the soil's lead levels, with higher soil lead levels typically resulting in higher lead concentrations in the vegetables.
It is important to note that the presence of lead in soil and plant roots poses a risk to human health, particularly for young children and pregnant women. Lead exposure can lead to developmental effects, including reduced IQ, attention span, impaired growth, and learning disabilities. To reduce the risk of lead exposure, it is recommended to follow good gardening practices, such as covering contaminated soil with a layer of clean soil, limiting access to contaminated areas, and washing produce thoroughly before consumption4.