At least four companies, including El Super Leon Ponchin Snacks Inc. of San Diego, CA, are recalling dried plums from China because of lead contamination.
El Super Leon Ponchin is recalling dry salted plums with and without chili, according to the company’s recall notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“The recall was initiated after the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) analyzed a sample at our location, and a sample from a store. Lab results showed the items had unsafe levels of lead,” El Super Leon Ponchin reported in its recall notice.
There is concern that consumers may have the products because of their long shelf life.
The recalled products sold by El Super Leon Ponchin were distributed in California to different retail stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, and cash and carry stores. They are packaged in plastic bags and usually sold near the cash registers at the stores. All of the lot codes for the product are included in the recall.
The affected products are sold under brands El Leoncito and El Super Leon. Package sizes subject to the recall have a net weight of 1.05 ounces, 1.4 ounces, and 16 ounces. The salted plums are packaged with a green top and the salted plums with chili and chamoy are packaged with a red top.
As of the posting of the recall notice there had not been any illnesses confirmed in relation to the recalled plums.
Consumers who acquired the plums sold under the El Super Leon and El Leoncito brands in any sizes should dispose of them. Any question regarding the recall should be directed to 619-271-0846.
See the Food Safety News website for information on other recalls of the dried plums from China.
About lead poisoning
Lead is a toxic substance present in our environment in small amounts and everyone is exposed to some lead from daily actions such as inhaling dust, eating food, or drinking water. Exposure to larger amounts of lead can cause lead poisoning. While lead can affect nearly every bodily system, its effects depend upon the amount of and duration of lead exposure and age of the person exposed.
Symptoms can include abdominal pain, vomiting, lethargy, irritability, weakness, behavior or mood changes, delirium, seizures, and coma. However, infants, young children and the developing fetus can be affected by chronic exposure to amounts of lead that may not result in obvious symptoms of lead poisoning. A child with lead poisoning may not look or act sick. Lead poising in children can cause: learning disabilities, developmental delays, and lower IQ scores.
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