Happytot Baby Food Found To Contain Lead
Two baby foods that are marketed as being safe and “organic” have been found to contain lead, according to a lawsuit filed recently. The baby food is sold at Target and Whole Foods. The food is alleged to contain 12 times the safe dose of lead. Both Whole Foods and Target are named in the lawsuit for distributing the contaminated baby food. One attorney pointed out that Whole Foods refuses to sell apples grown with pesticides but has still managed to keep the lead-filled baby food on their shelves.
The plaintiffs are hoping to secure an immediate recall of the baby food but will need to prove that their children suffered an injury because of the lead.
No federal standard
There is currently no federal standard for the amount of lead in baby food. However, no amount of lead is “safe” for children to consume and safety guidelines put the maximum safe dose of lead as 1 part per billion. The food on the shelves is believed to have 12 times the amount of safe lead.
In February, a congressional report found that Happy Family Organics’ baby food had 10 parts per billion. Some products tested as high as 641 ppb. In other words, something extremely and consistently bad is happening and children are being harmed.
Happy Family Organics insists, however, that their products have been rigorously tested. Note, that they did not say that their products contain no lead. They simply said that the products were “rigorously” tested for safety issues. They did say that they do not sell products with contaminate ranges outside of FDA limits, but there is no limit when it comes to lead because it would be a bit like putting arsenic in baby food, most folks just don’t think of it when they’re creating standards for safety. There’s no limit on hemlock or cyanide either.
So, essentially, Happy Family Organics could be truthful in saying that they rigorously test their products and their products don’t contain more than recommended safety limits for contaminants even if their products contain 641 times the safe dose of lead. This affords them the opportunity to appear as though they’re denying the charges without actually committing to saying something that may turn out not to be true.
Meanwhile, lead is known to cause developmental delays, cognitive impairments, mood destabilization, and other neurological problems. It can also cause acute symptoms that are sometimes fatal.
Nonetheless, these lawsuits emerged from independent data based on California’s prop 65 which requires compliance with safe lead levels. That means that there are currently no plaintiffs alleging that their children were injured by the product. That could change once parents become aware that they’ve been feeding their children lead.
Talk to a Tampa Product Liability Lawyer Today
If you or your child has been injured due to a dangerous or defective product, call the Tampa personal injury lawyers at The Matassini Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can recover damages related to your injuries, lost wages, and reduced quality of life.
Resource:
einnews.com/pr_news/543808937/lawsuit-dangerous-lead-levels-found-in-two-happy-tot-baby-food-products-sold-at-whole-foods-and-target
