Two ‘healthy’ brands of crisps for children contain dangerous levels of a toxic heavy metal that can make them sick, a report has found.
The watchdog Consumer Reports found that vegetarian puffs made by Lesser Evil and Serenity Kids contained “worrying” levels of lead, which has been linked to lower IQ, ADHD and even autism.
The FDA has stated that there is no safe lead level for children whose brains are still developing.
The chips are made with cassava, a potato-like root vegetable, which may have collected lead from contaminated soil during the mining and farming process, the report said.
Lesser Evil’s Lil’ Puffs Intergalactic Voyager Veggie Blends puffs contain more lead per serving than all 80 baby foods the advocacy group has tested since 2017
Lesser Evil’s Lil’ Puffs Sweet Potato Apple Asteroid also contained high levels of lead, the report found
Processing cassava into flour and making snacks “may concentrate lead more than eating it fresh,” the report said, possibly because the vegetable comes into contact with metal equipment.
Worrying levels of lead were found in both the Lesser Evil puff pastry products tested and one from Serenity Kids, the report found.
Both brands can be purchased across America at stores like Amazon, Whole Foods and Target. Lesser Evil can also be found at Walmart and CVS.
Lesser Evil’s Lil’ Puffs Intergalactic Voyager Veggie Blends puffs contain 112 percent of the maximum allowable dose of lead in California, the most protective standard available in the US.
The puffs contain more lead per serving than all 80 baby foods that the advocacy group has tested since 2017.
Lesser Evil’s Lil’ Puffs Sweet Potato Apple Asteroid and Serenity Kids’ Tomato & Herb Bone Broth puffs also showed high lead levels, with a serving of the Lesser Evil containing 60 percent of the maximum allowable dose level and the Serenity Kids product containing 53. per cent.
Serenity Kids’ Tomato & Herb Bone Broth profiteroles also showed high lead levels
The snacks can be seen as a healthier option than sugary sweets and as a way for children to get their vegetables.
On the other hand, very low levels of lead were found in products made with sorghum, a gluten-free grain, which was a good thing, according to Consumer Reports.
“It’s clear that some manufacturers need to do their best to keep heavy metals out of their snacks, and there may be specific concerns about foods made with cassava,” said James Rogers, head of food safety testing at Consumer Reports.
Some studies have shown that cassava and other vegetables such as sweet potatoes may have high lead levels.
The metal occurs naturally in society or can be deposited there by pollution that accumulates in the roots of plants.
Lead is known to be dangerous to humans, causing memory loss, stomach ache and bad mood in adults after prolonged exposure.
In children, the heavy metal can damage their brain and central nervous system, leading to learning and behavioral problems.
Mother-of-two Macarena Rizzo, who has been feeding her 15-month-old daughter vegetarian profiteroles, said CBS News she was “very disappointed” with Consumer Reports’ findings.
“I thought I was making a good choice, or a smart choice, and it looks like I’m not,” she said.
Mr Rogers said parents need not panic, but should be aware that over time, lead levels in children can increase and increase the risk of developmental problems such as lower IQ, ADHD and autism.
Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can build up in a child’s bloodstream, lodge in the bones, teeth and soft tissues, and build up in the body, damaging organs and affecting the central nervous system.
Both Lesser Evil and Serenity Kids justified the results by saying that heavy metals, including lead, occur naturally in the environment, meaning it’s “virtually impossible” to avoid them.