California Finds the 17th Candy Contaminated with Lead in 2013

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) warns consumers not to eat three santos brand Rewadi and Sesame Candies imported from India

Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and state health officer, today warned consumers not to eat three candies imported from India after tests conducted by CDPH found the products contained levels of lead that exceeded the state’s standards. Consumers in possession of these candies should discard them immediately.

The three candies are:

• Santos Rewadi Gur (7- and 14-ounce packages)

• Santos Sugar Rewadi  (2 lb. package)

• Santos Sesame Candy (2 lb. package)

CDPH determined that Santos Rewadi Gur, Santos Sugar Rewadi, and Santos Sesame Candy, contained as much as 0.31 parts per million (ppm) of lead. Both California and the FDA  considers candies with lead levels in excess of 0.10 ppm to be contaminated.

These candies are imported and distributed by Santos Inc., of San Leandro, California.  Santos Inc. has initiated a voluntary recall of the candy and is currently working to ensure the product is removed from the marketplace.

Pregnant women and parents of children who may have eaten these candies should consult their physician or health care provider to determine if medical testing is needed.

Including these three candies the CDHP has found 17 candys with too much lead. They retest any candy that the tests find that have to much lead to be sure their tests were accurate. These candies were three times the limit. Many of the candies that were tested were much higher. It brings into question, should we should be importing candy ?

Consumers who find any of these three candies for sale should call the CDPH Complaint Hotline at 1 800-495-3232. For more information about lead poisoning, contact your county childhood lead poisoning prevention program or public health department.