The United States Food and Drug Administration has released a report from the California Department of Public Health with another warning about a health risk from a food. This time it is a candy imported from Mexico, “De La Rosa Pulparindo Candy.”
Tests conducted by the CDPH have revealed that the candy contains a high level of lead and lead can lead to very serious health problems. This should be a warning not only to the citizens of California, but also to any other border states that import food items from Mexico as well as any tourists who are planing a trip to Mexico. Double warning, this item is also on sale on the internet.
The report refers to a product in a red box, but the company also has candy packed in a yellow bag and while it is not specifically mentioned in the alert, it would stand to reason that any product made by the same company in the same place would just as likely have the same contamination. With something as serious as lead poisoning, it would be better to err on the side of caution and not by any products from this company. If you have any on hand, throw it out immediately.
Eating candy or any other food, or ingesting lead in any form, is most harmful to infants, young children and pregnant women. It is highly toxic, and can result in life long disabilities such as learning disabilities and behavoiral disorders.
The product that the alert specifically refers to the De la Rosa Pulparindo that comes in a 10 oz box with individually wrapped candies inside. It is bright red in color, the word “Pulparindo is in black letters and “Extra Hot and Salted Tamarind Pulp Candy” is in yellow with green trim.
Dul-Mex Guadalajara Inc. of Hayward is the distributor who had the contaminated candy and he has started a voluntary recall of the product and is cooperating fully with the authorities. Meanwhile, the CDPH is working to try and identify any other distributors to make sure that all of the product is removed from all stores in California.
To give you a reference point so you can realize just how serious this particular product recall is, a lead level in candy over 0.1 parts per million is considered contaminated. This candy had between 0.12 and 0.18 PPM
In 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill that addresses this exact problem. The bill provided the extra resources need to allow the CDPH to conduct examinations of candy.
If you or your children and had any of this candy, and if you are pregnant or think you may be, contact your doctor to see if any testing would be recommended.
Pregnant women and parents of children who may have consumed any of the above mentioned candy should consult with their physician or health care provider to determine if they are at risk.
If you know of anyone selling the candy in California, contact the CDPH at1-800-495-3232.
