On May 9, Publix announced a voluntary recall. This even has a direct impact on their 4-ounce Greenwise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food pouches. Combined with the last recall, this affects more than 1,400 stores across the country. Most importantly, it solves serious health concerns associated with high levels of lead recently discovered in the product. Bowman Andros, a French company, manufactured the baby food pouches. Their impressive manufacturing facility is nestled in the Shenandoah Valley town of Mount Jackson, Virginia.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not formally announce the recall until late Thursday. This unexpected delay came as a blow to consumers. Earlier this year, state officials in North Carolina sounded warnings that they too could be experiencing widespread contamination. They linked it to a lead poisoning scandal involving contaminated applesauce pouches. This outbreak has sickened more than 500 children across the country, according to health officials.
Federal health officials eventually documented 566 cases of lead poisoning linked to these pouches in 44 states. North Carolina’s agriculture officials were testing routinely. When they tested 30 popular products, they still found some scorching lead levels — up to 13.4 parts per billion — in the baby food. These levels were as much as 2,000 times the FDA’s max recommended limit and contained chromium.
This recall is the second baby food pouch recall in two months over lead risk. In March, Target finally did a recall with over 25,000 packages of its Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Puree. They launched the recall for much the same reasons. The growing rate of these recalls is alarming and indicates a lapse in food safety controls and oversight.
Whatever the cause, North Carolina has been on the offense during its recent collaborative efforts with the FDA to routinely test food products. Unfortunately, this premium pay program was cut in April — the first act of federal funding cuts started during the Trump administration and continued by President Biden. State health officials have greatly increased their lead poisoning complaint investigation efforts. They are particularly investigating cases linked to WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree from earlier this year.
WanaBana is not alone. They had previously recalled for lead contamination as well. The current surge of recalls has brought critical food safety issues to the forefront. It does heighten the urgent need for more thoughtful and robust oversight of the industry.
