On June 9, 2010 the Environmental Law Foundation, a non-profit organization from Oakland, California, filed a Notice of Violation of California Proposition 65 alleging that lead was present in a variety of children’s and baby food. More specifically, lead was reported to be contained in apple and grape juices, packaged pears and peaches (including baby food), as well as various fruit cocktails. Lead has been found in conventionally prepared as well as organic products. The Environmental Law Foundation claimed that single servings of these foods contained amounts of lead exceeding the allowed lead levels as prescribed by Proposition 65; of 368 samples of tested products, 125 were above the limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per single serving. For a complete list of products see the Environmental Law Foundation.
The Environmental Law Foundation purchased a large number of samples of assorted brands of juices and fruit products around California and tested them in an EPA-sponsored lab. The results showed that many individual servings of these products contained lead levels that are above the federal daily limit established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
It is hard to say with any certainty how the lead got into these foods but since it does not dissolve over time, once released, lead stays in the environment. It can be taken up by plants from the soil or it can be deposited on plants and fruits as airborne particles. It can also end up in these products as a contaminant from during processing.
This does not mean though that all foods contain lead. On the contrary, there are foods that are lead free. Ask for lead free products at your local grocers. Become informed and share what you know with others.
LEAD BABIES
www.enoughlead.com
Authors: Joanna Cerazy M.Ed. and Sandra Cottingham Ph.D
No comments:
Post a Comment