Recently, the public learned that high levels of lead were found in some cinnamon applesauce pouches sold in North Carolina. I need your help to tell the FDA that more federal oversight is needed to protect little ones from dangerous toxic contaminants, including lead.
Add your name to our petition urging the FDA to require the baby food industry to test all finished food products for lead and other toxic contaminants.
WRAL writes: "In the last few months, nearly 400 childhood lead poisoning cases were linked to recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches that were sold in stores without first being tested for toxic metals."1
We know that lead is toxic to humans, and there's no safe level of exposure. The health effects can be devastating and in children can cause developmental delays. During an investigation of children with high lead blood levels, officials with the NC Department of Health and Human Services identified the problem of lead exposure from the applesauce pouches, leading to a massive recall.2 Further, North Carolina Attorney General Stein has joined 20 other attorneys general across the country urging the FDA to implement more federal oversight for all baby food.
Can you join us in urging the FDA to do better in protecting our children?
We, the undersigned, are writing to ask the FDA to require the baby food industry to test baby food products for lead and other toxic elements, including inorganic arsenic, cadmium, and mercury.
Recently, during an investigation of children with elevated lead blood levels, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services identified that children in North Carolina were exposed to high levels of lead from WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches. This led to a massive recall.
No level of lead exposure is safe for a child and children under six are most vulnerable. Further, children of color and low-income children continue to shoulder a disproportionate burden of lead exposure.
The FDA can do more to protect children from lead and other toxic contaminants before exposure happens. Families should not have to worry that their babies and children could be put in harm's way by the food they eat.
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Sincerely,
[Your name here]
