Lead in a Variety of Children's Juices and Foods

A recent report by the Environmental Law Foundation, a California non-profit, indicated that there is lead in a variety of popular children's juices, canned fruits, and baby foods, even the organic varieties.
The ELF sampled a variety of the foods and found levels of lead that exceeded allowances under California's Proposition 65, a law that requires notice to consumers by means of warning labels when foods are tainted. The levels for lead stipulated in Proposition 65 are considerably lower than the federal standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The complete list includes 125 products—apple juice, grape juice, packaged peaches, pears, and fruit cocktail—from brands such as Del Monte, Gerber, Welch’s, Trader Joe’s, and more (click here for complete list).

Here are a few things you can do to reduce kids exposure to lead consumptions, according to Dr David Katz, MD:
1) Consider a reduction in kids' juice, and more water.
2)  Choose organic foods whenever possible. 
3) Be familiar with, and vigilant about the signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in a child.
4) As a matter of routine, ask your pediatrician if lead testing is warranted. 
5) Don't stop feeding your child fruit, because the net benefits of eating produce certainly outweigh, as a rule, any very tiny potential harm.


Sources: Prevention, Shine, ELF