Publix recalls baby food pouch after testing and found an increase in lead levels

The supermarket chain Publix reminded me of fruit and vegetable baby food sold in eight states, including Florida.

Publix reminds me of the 4-ounce green pear, kiwi, spinach and peas baby food pouches sold in more than 1,400 stores.

According to the company’s website, the pouch was produced by Bowman Andros, a French company with a manufacturing plant in Mount Jackson, Virginia. Publix issued a voluntary recall on May 9th, but was not added to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recall list until late Thursday.

The potential contamination was flagged by North Carolina officials. This is the first to identify the outbreak of lead poisoning in 2023, associated with a contaminated applesauce pouch that has made more than 500 US children sick.

Agricultural officials in North Carolina said daily sampling of baby food pouches found lead levels at 13.4 parts per 13.4 parts. This exceeds the FDA’s recommended limit of 10 parts for such products for babies and young children.

Publix said all potentially contaminated products have been removed from store shelves. No illnesses have been reported, according to the company. Customers can return the pouch to their local store for a full refund.

This is the second baby food pouch recall, as there is a possibility of lead contamination in two months. In March, Target recalled more than 25,000 packages of store brands Good & Gracking Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale and Thyme vegetable puree as lead levels rose.

North Carolina is working with the FDA to conduct daily food testing, officials said.

In 2023, state health officials investigated reports of lead poisoning in four children who consumed Wanabana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree. These findings led to detection of nationwide outbreaks linked to pouches. The pouches were widely sold at Dollar Tree and other stores. Tests showed that it contained a maximum recommended level for FDA and a level of lead of 2,000 times the level of chromium.

Federal health officials ultimately identified 566 possible or suspected cases of lead poisoning tied to porches in 44 states.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Program coordinated the outbreak of applesauce and state and federal responses. However, the program was removed in April as part of a federal funding cut under the Trump administration.

CDC officials did not say how the agency will respond or respond to a similar outbreak. A spokesperson said the agency is aware of Publix’s baby food recalls but has not been asked to assist with the investigation.

According to the CDC, there is no safe level of lead exposure. Heavy metals are toxic to people of all ages, but are particularly harmful to children, damaging the brain and nervous system, slowing growth and development.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, heavy metals such as lead can enter food from soil, air, water or industrial processes.