K A S H R U T . C O M_©

June 5, 2024 from the Food Safety News:

"A new study by Consumer Reports has found alarming levels of lead in some vegetable puffs marketed for small children.

"The consumer advocacy group tested two puffs: cassava made by Lesser Evil and Serenity Kids and sorghum puffs from Once Upon a Farm. "According to Consumer Reports ‘ research, the sorghum products from Once Upon a Farm had very low lead levels, with some of the lowest levels of all the baby foods the organization has ever tested.

"Certain foods are more likely to have dangerous lead levels than others. For example, cassava and other root vegetables, including sweet potatoes, carrots, and beets, can be troublesome because lead occurs naturally in soil and can accumulate in a plant’s roots, said Angelia Seyfferth from the Department of Plants and Sciences at the University of Delaware.

"Also, processing cassava into flour for crackers, chips, or other snack foods can concentrate the lead more robustly than eating fresh vegetables.

"Consumer Reports was alerted to concerns about lead in cassava by Tamara Rubin, the owner of Lead Safe Mama. She focuses on preventing lead poisoning and helping parents identify possible sources of lead exposure."