Cheapism / conejota/shutterstock / Kresopix / istockphoto Surprising Lead-Tainted Foods
Lead, a naturally occurring toxic element found in the earth’s soil, can have serious health consequences with even minimal exposure. According to the World Health Organization, this potent neurotoxin wreaks havoc on the body, causing everything from developmental delays and cognitive impairments in children to kidney damage and hypertension in adults.
You wouldn’t expect to find something so dangerous on your dinner plate, but surprisingly, lead is sneaking into some of the foods we eat daily. Here are seven foods that contain dangerous levels of lead. Kresopix / istockphoto 1. Root Vegetables
Root vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, turnips, and radishes naturally absorb whatever is in the soil, including lead. Recent research conducted in Milwaukee shows that backyard vegetable gardens near old houses coated with lead paint contained high lead levels in their soil. The study found that vegetables grown in the soil, like carrots, had drastically higher levels of lead compared to those that grew above ground, like tomatoes. So, if you’re growing your own veggies, consider testing your soil or using commercial soil to ensure your produce remains lead-free and safe to eat. U.S. Food & Drug Administration 2. Baby Food
One might think that a product advertised for infants and young children would be safe to eat. Alas, it’s shocking how much food marketed to kids contains lead. A 2019 study by Healthy Babies Bright Futures found that 95% of tested baby foods contained toxic metals, including lead. Baby foods commonly found to contain lead include rice-based products like infant rice cereals, purees of root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots, fruit juices, and certain teething biscuits and snacks.
In 2023, the FDA recalled cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches from brands like WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis after detecting lead levels over 5,000 parts per million — more than 2,000 times higher than proposed standards. shakzu/istockphoto 3. Imported candy
Imported candy, especially Mexican-style varieties with chili powder or tamarind pulp, often contain more lead than you’d think. The FDA recommends a maximum of 0.1 parts per million (ppm) of […]
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