One production date lot of Beech-Nut rice baby food is being recalled because it contains high levels of inorganic arsenic. Baby food manufacturers have been under fire for some time because sampling has shown that many of these products have high levels of heavy metals such as inorganic arsenic, cadmium, and lead. No illnesses related to this specific product have been reported to the company to date, although the effects of ingesting this compound can take years to manifest. No other production dates or Beech-Nut products are affected by this recall. Beech-Nut has also decided to leave the market for Beech-Nut branded Single Grain Rice Cereal. The company is concerned about the ability to obtain rice flour that is consistently well below the FDA guidance level and their own … [Read more...]
High Levels of Arsenic and Lead in Vinegars, Says Food and Water Watch
There are high levels of arsenic and lead in vinegars, according to a letter that Food & Water Watch sent to officials at the FDA. The letter was also signed by the Empire State Consumer Project (ESCP). The letter claims that dangerously high lead and arsenic levels have been found in many brands of vinegars, especially balsamic vinegar, and vinegar reductions that are sold in United States grocery stores. Those organizations are asking the FDA to protect the public, especially children and pregnant women, who are most at risk for serious health problems from those heavy metals. They want the FDA to establish limits for those compounds in vinegars and to add warning labels on products. ESCP's test results showed that of the 24 samples of major brands of vinegars or vinegar … [Read more...]
U.S. House Report Finds Baby Foods Tainted with Heavy Metals
A U.S. House subcommittee report finds that baby foods tainted with heavy metals are being sold to unsuspecting consumers. The report was issued on February 4, 2021 by the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy and the Committee on Oversight and Reform. The report states that companies were asked to provide information about internal testing on their products. Four complied. But Walmart, which sells Parent's Choice baby food; Sprout Organic Foods; and Campbell, which sells Plum Organics, refused to cooperate with the subcommittees' investigation. They did not provide testing results or standards. The report states that representatives have "grave concerns" about baby foods manufactured by those three companies that would not cooperate, stating "The Subcommittee is greatly … [Read more...]
Valley Processing Ordered To Stop Producing Adulterated Juices
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington entered a consent decree between the FDA and Valley Processing of Sunnyside, Washington to stop the company from distributing adulterated juice products until they comply with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The complaint, filed on November 6, 2020, states that Valley Processing juice products allegedly contained inorganic arsenic and patulin toxins at levels that can cause health problems. This juice was distributed for use in school lunch programs. This consent decree prohibits Valley Processing from receiving, preparing, processing, packing, holding, labeling, and/or distributing FDA regulated products until it completes corrective actions. The company had stopped its juice processing activities, but they … [Read more...]
FDA Sues Valley Processing For Heavy Metal in Juice, Insanitary Conditions
According to press reports, the FDA is suing Valley Processing of Sunnyside, Washington because the company allegedly is not monitoring for toxic heavy metals in its juice products and producing under insanitary conditions. Valley Processing supplies juices to the national school lunch program. Three million servings of the company's juice products were distributed every year to the federal school lunch program. The lawsuit was filed November 6, 2020 in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Washington. The lawsuit states that the company allegedly ignored years of notifications from inspectors about issues that put kids at risk of consuming products that were "injurious to health." The company has agreed to a consent decree. The lawsuit states, "Defendants’ juice products are … [Read more...]
Consumer Reports Finds Higher Levels of Arsenic in Starkey Spring Water
Consumer Reports finds arsenic in Starkey Spring Water at higher levels than other brands. Starkey is a bottled water product made by Whole Foods that is sold on Amazon. That's alarming enough, but the level of arsenic in the water is "potentially harmful," according to CR's report. More than a year ago, CR published another list of bottled waters with higher arsenic levels which also included Starkey. Consumer Reports tested dozens of bottled water brands and found that Starkey Spring Water, which was introduced by Whole Foods in 2015, had at least three times the level of arsenic of every other brand they teated. The arsenic levels in that water ranged from 9.49 to 9.56 parts per billion (ppb). That is below the level the federal government sets, which is 10 ppb. But Consumer … [Read more...]
FDA Releases Infant Rice Cereal Arsenic Tests; Improvement Noted
The FDA is releasing information about their testing of infant rice cereal arsenic results that show manufacturers have made "significant progress" reducing levels of inorganic arsenic, the most dangerous type, in their products. There are two types of arsenic: organic arsenic, which is mainly found in seafood and may not be toxic to humans, and inorganic arsenic, which is highly toxic. Organic arsenic bonds with carbon, but inorganic arsenic bonds with a non-carbon element such as oxygen. Most people consume inorganic arsenic from drinking water and foods. A study conducted in 2017 found that there is six times more arsenic in infant rice cereal than other types of cereals. Rice can contain arsenic because of how it is grown. The rice plants are planted in old cotton fields in … [Read more...]
Senator Schumer Concerned About Heavy Metals in Baby Food
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is urging the FDA to investigate a new report that states there are toxic heavy metals in baby foods. The government does not have regulation that would make industry to address this problem. That report, by Healthy Baby Food.org, states that these metals, including arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium, are found in a wide variety of baby foods. According to the report, 95% of baby foods tested were contaminated by at least one of the heavy metals. One in four baby foods teated contains all four of the heavy metals. Only nine of 168 baby foods teated did not have any traces of these toxins. The products with the highest levels of contamination include fruit juices and rice-based products. Alarmingly, four of the seven infant rice cereals that were … [Read more...]
Cellect Products Recalls Unflavored Powder For Arsenic and Lead
Port Jefferson Station, NY, Cellect Products Inc. and Oglethorpe Ltd. are recalling lot #041907 of Cellect Unflavored Powder & Essentials Factor Cell Synergy Unflavored Powder. because they have unsafe levels of arsenic and lead. Long term exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with skin disorders and increased risks for skin, bladder, and lung cancers. Long term exposure to lead can cause learning disabilities and lower IQ. No reports of adverse reactions have been received to date. Taking more than two servings daily of this drink mix product could result in an accumulation of lead in the body. Lead poisoning can damage the nervous system and internal organs. Acute lead poisoning can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, diarrhea, weight loss, and bloody or … [Read more...]
Peñafiel Unflavored Mineral Spring Water Recalled For Arsenic
Keurig Dr. Pepper is recalling Peñafiel unflavored mineral spring water products that were imported from Mexico because of the present of violative levels of arsenic. Arsenic, when present in the diet at very high levels, well above those detected in recent samples of the product, is associated with many chronic illnesses, including cancer and developmental problems. Arsenic is found in nature, including aquifers that are sources of mineral water. The levels in the water can vary over time. Keurig Dr. Pepper has installed enhanced filtration systems at its facilities that produce this product, and the water now being produced is within regulatory guidelines. The recall does not state whether the arsenic is in the organic or inorganic form. Inorganic arsenic is generally more … [Read more...]
