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Topics > Lead Poisoning > State Health Department Issues Health Warning On Lead-Contaminated Sweet Cured Plums From China
News Release
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Consumers, particularly infants, young children and pregnant women, should not eat Shun Tai Preserved Fruits - Sweet Cured Plums because the products may contain excessively high levels of lead that could cause serious health problems, State Public Health Officer Dr. Mark Horton warned today. No illnesses have been reported.
Routine testing of Shun Tai Preserved Fruits - Sweet Cured Plums by the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) determined that the plums contain between 0.41 and 0.67 micrograms of lead per gram of product. The fruit products are imported from China and packaged in 60-gram pink plastic packages with white lettering (Chinese and English). The front panel of the package has a clear window to view the product and a picture of a young female.
Based upon data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the quantities of these types of products normally consumed by individuals could result in an unacceptable exposure to lead among pregnant women and young children.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that children under age 6 should not consume more than 6.0 micrograms and pregnant women should not consume more than 25 micrograms of lead each day from all food sources.
"Lead is toxic to humans, especially infants, young children and developing fetuses, in both short- and long-term exposures, and can result in learning disabilities and behavioral disorders that could last a lifetime," Horton said.
Pregnant women and parents of children who may have consumed this product should consult their physician or health care provider to determine if further medical testing is warranted. For more information about lead poisoning, parents should contact their local childhood lead poisoning prevention program or local public health department.
Consumers in possession of Shun Tai Preserved Fruits - Sweet Cured Plums should dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. The public is encouraged to report any sellers of this product by calling CDHS’ Complaint Hotline at 1-800-495-3232.
Gov. Schwarzenegger demonstrated his continued efforts to prevent childhood lead poisoning by signing Assembly Bill 121, which prohibits the sale of imported candies with high levels of lead and strengthens the state’s oversight to monitor lead content in candy. In the Governor’s signing message, he also directed CDHS to adopt a standard for lead in candy that is more stringent than the FDA standard and to work with stakeholders on follow-up legislation to prevent lead contamination in candy through better manufacturing and packaging practices.
Additional information and a list of local childhood lead prevention programs are available at the following CDHS Web site: www.dhs.ca.gov/childlead. The California Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch can also be reached at (510) 620-5600 for a list of these programs.
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