Baby food made for a major commercial retailer has been recalled in the United States over concerns it may have been tainted with elevated levels of lead.
Miami-based company Fruselva, which makes baby food sold under a Target store brand, issued the recall in March for more than 25,000 packages because they may contain traces of the heavy metal.
Products recalled include Target’s Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Puree, sold in 4-ounce tubs, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The packages include lot number 4167, with a best-by date of December 7, and lot number 4169, with a best-by date of December 9.
Consumers should not feed babies the products.
It comes amid a series of major recalls in the country, including butter made by a Vermont-based company that contained bacteria commonly found in feces.
What happens if you consume lead?
The recall is listed as Class II, which means the products are unlikely to cause serious harm, but still have the potential to result in temporary or reversible problems.
There is no safe level of exposure to lead for children, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Exposure to heavy metals like lead can cause developmental and cognitive problems.
What are the symptoms of lead poisoning?
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms are initially hard to detect and usually only appear once significant or dangerous amounts have accumulated in the body.
Particularly in children under the age of 6, lead poisoning is likely to lead to developmental delays and learning difficulties, the clinic advises.
Other symptoms include irritability, weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, fatigue, and seizures.
