Guest guest Posted April 26, 2004 Report Share Posted April 26, 2004 Lead detected in Mexican candy in California Little is done as sweets stay on shelvesAssociated Press SANTA ANA, Calif. -- More than 100 brands of candy sold in California, most of them from Mexico, have tested positive for dangerous levels of lead in the past decade, and little has been done about it, a newspaper reported. In nearly every case, the candy -- mostly marketed to Latino kids -- stayed on store shelves and no action was taken against the Mexican manufacturers, the Orange County Register reported in Sunday's editions, citing state and federal records. The public was rarely informed of test results, the newspaper found. "Children are eating poison," said Leticia Ayala, of San Diego-based Environmental Health Coalition, a nonprofit group that urged the state to better regulate Mexican candies. State officials said they lack the resources to tackle the problem and have little jurisdiction over Mexican candy manufacturers. "We have a lot more responsibilities than looking for lead in candy," said Jim Waddell, chief of the state Health Department's Food and Drug Branch. Lead poisoning can cause brain and nerve damage and result in intelligence and behavioral problems, particularly in children. Concerns about lead poisoning led to a ban on lead-based house paint in the 1970s and on lead compounds in gasoline in the 1980s. As many as 15 percent of California children who suffer lead poisoning -- about 3,000 over the past three years -- have eaten Mexican candy, according to state statistics. About three-quarters of them are Hispanic. The government did little to release the information to the public, the paper said. For example, it knew of high lead levels for years in Chaca Chaca, a popular Mexican treat made from apple pulp and chili powder, but no public warnings were issued until last month. The Register conducted its own tests on 180 samples purchased over the counter in Southern California, and 32 percent of the tests showed high levels of lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2004 Report Share Posted April 26, 2004 In a message dated 4/26/2004 3:41:51 PM US Mountain Standard Time, h10feet writes: Thanks for posting this Jaime...My sister does homeday care, and i know some of the kids bring candy over to share and i remember seeing some mexican Candy. They also have the trucks selling ice-cream and stuff near the school where my grandsons, nephews and neices go and I know they buy stuff from the truck sometimes, i have seen them with it.Now i have some good ammo to use to get them to stop (more than me just asking them to chose healthy alternatives!)Sylvia I hope that the article does help get those kids off candy! Do your best!! The lead should be the cleancher. God Bless, Jamie in Az Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2004 Report Share Posted April 26, 2004 In a message dated 4/26/2004 4:43:20 PM US Mountain Standard Time, h10feet writes: I printed out the article, and am in the process of making copies as we speak (type heheheh)Next i am taking it over to my daughter and my sister and make sure i take an extra copy or two for my sister to share with her clients (moms of kids).Thanks again!Sylvia You Go Girl!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2004 Report Share Posted April 26, 2004 Thanks for posting this Jaime... My sister does homeday care, and i know some of the kids bring candy over to share and i remember seeing some mexican Candy. They also have the trucks selling ice-cream and stuff near the school where my grandsons, nephews and neices go and I know they buy stuff from the truck sometimes, i have seen them with it. Now i have some good ammo to use to get them to stop (more than me just asking them to chose healthy alternatives!) Sylvia herbal remedies , SpareRibOfAz@a... wrote: > Lead detected in Mexican candy in California > Little is done as sweets stay on shelves > Associated Press > SANTA ANA, Calif. -- More than 100 brands of candy sold in California, most > of them from Mexico, have tested positive for dangerous levels of lead in the > past decade, and little has been done about it, a newspaper reported. > In nearly every case, the candy -- mostly marketed to Latino kids -- stayed > on store shelves and no action was taken against the Mexican manufacturers, the > Orange County Register reported in Sunday's editions, citing state and > federal records. > The public was rarely informed of test results, the newspaper found. > " Children are eating poison, " said Leticia Ayala, of San Diego- based > Environmental Health Coalition, a nonprofit group that urged the state to better > regulate Mexican candies. > State officials said they lack the resources to tackle the problem and have > little jurisdiction over Mexican candy manufacturers. > " We have a lot more responsibilities than looking for lead in candy, " said > Jim Waddell, chief of the state Health Department's Food and Drug Branch. > Lead poisoning can cause brain and nerve damage and result in intelligence > and behavioral problems, particularly in children. > Concerns about lead poisoning led to a ban on lead-based house paint in the > 1970s and on lead compounds in gasoline in the 1980s. > As many as 15 percent of California children who suffer lead poisoning -- > about 3,000 over the past three years -- have eaten Mexican candy, according to > state statistics. About three-quarters of them are Hispanic. > The government did little to release the information to the public, the paper > said. > For example, it knew of high lead levels for years in Chaca Chaca, a popular > Mexican treat made from apple pulp and chili powder, but no public warnings > were issued until last month. > The Register conducted its own tests on 180 samples purchased over the > counter in Southern California, and 32 percent of the tests showed high levels of > lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2004 Report Share Posted April 27, 2004 I printed out the article, and am in the process of making copies as we speak (type heheheh) Next i am taking it over to my daughter and my sister and make sure i take an extra copy or two for my sister to share with her clients (moms of kids). Thanks again! Sylvia herbal remedies , SpareRibOfAz@a... wrote: > In a message dated 4/26/2004 3:41:51 PM US Mountain Standard Time, > h10feet writes: > Thanks for posting this Jaime... > > My sister does homeday care, and i know some of the kids bring candy > over to share and i remember seeing some mexican Candy. They also > have the trucks selling ice-cream and stuff near the school where my > grandsons, nephews and neices go and I know they buy stuff from the > truck sometimes, i have seen them with it. > > Now i have some good ammo to use to get them to stop (more than me > just asking them to chose healthy alternatives!) > > Sylvia > I hope that the article does help get those kids off candy! > > Do your best!! The lead should be the cleancher. > > God Bless, > Jamie in Az Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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