85% of Kids’ Drinks, Snacks Could Contain High Levels of Lead

[n2doc]

by Jasmin Malik Chua, 06/11/10

Another day, another “uh oh.” The latest kerfuffle? Quantities of lead in bottled juice, juice boxes, and packaged fruit could exceed federal limits for the lunchbox-toting set, according to the Environmental Law Foundation. The Bay Area-based environmental nonprofit, which enlisted the aid of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-certified lab in Berkeley, tested nearly 400 samples from 150 branded products marketed to children, including apple juice, grape juice, packaged pears and peaches (including baby food), and fruit cocktail mixes. The alarming results: 125 out of 146 products—or more than 85%—contained enough lead in a single serving to warrant a warning label under California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, better known as Prop. 65.

More troubling, perhaps, is the fact that the results tar both organic and conventional products: Earth’s Best Organic, 365 Everyday Value Organic, Trader Joe’s, and Walnut Acres get as fair of a shake as Welch’s, Minute Maid, Gerber, Del Monte, and Dole. Plus, most scientists concur that no safe level of exposure to lead exists, especially when it comes to babies and children.

ELF has dispatched notices to law-enforcement officials, including California’s attorney-general, district attorneys, and the affected manufacturers, retailers, and distributors. The notices start a clock for the companies to either bring themselves into compliance with Prop. 65 or to place “clear and reasonable warnings” on the food packages. If, at the end of 60 days, no law enforcement agency pursues prosecution, ELF will file a formal suit.

list at link

http://www.inhabitots.com/2010/06/11/85-of-kids-drinks-snacks-could-contain-high-levels-of-lead/

[jdlh8894]

1. Good f'ing g-d !!!

Is there anything GOOD anymore? I give up.
On edit : How many kids use LEAD PENCILS.(and put them in their mouths?)

[n2doc]

3. The "lead" in pencils is actually graphite (carbon) n/t

[jdlh8894]

4. What makes the difference between a

#1,#2,#3,#4,etc. pencil? Lead content.

[Qutzupalotl]

8. No, softness.

[reggie the dog]

11. graphite

lead is used in bullets, but those are supposed to kill

[Heywood J]

15. More or less clay, compared to graphite. (NT)

[SoCalDem]

6. I hear ya!

It seems as if we have managed to pollute/poison almost everything we come into contact with..:(

[jdlh8894]

7. Not sure if "we" have managed to do it

IMO,it seem like every 10 - 20 years every scare tactic either reverses its course or comes up again.JMHO

[Fumesucker]

2. Predicting the response from law enforcement right here..

[Igel]

10. Ah.

[One_Life_To_Give]

5. Exceeds 0.5 micro grams / serving

Cal Prop 65 set a limit of 0.5 ugm per day. Or in this case in 1 serving or 8oz.
Federal drinking water standard is 15ugm per liter, about 3ugm per 8oz.

From the wording it appears the manufacturers are meeting Federal Standards but ignoring CA regulations.

[Hekate]

9. Take one fresh apple. Peel. Slice. Sprinkle with lemon juice or cinnamon. Put in snack bag.

Not enough baby teeth yet? Ditto with baby-food grinder.

Gerber's banana? Yikes. Peel banana, mash with fork. Or just peel banana, break off piece and hand to kid.

Take a one-quart carton of whole milk yogurt (just milk and cultures, no sugar or gel). Stir. Spoon a few ounces into a sippy cup and dilute slightly with a squeeze from a fresh orange. Put lid on. Hand to kid.

:wtf: is so damn hard about that, when it's been proven over and over and over again that the stuff marketed to kids in cute tiny portions is over-priced and over-processed and full of crap?

And yeah, I hope ELF does file a formal lawsuit.

Hekate

[awoke_in_2003]

14. How many families

have both parents working at least one job? How many single moms and dads are out there? Yes, it makes more sense to make it yourself, but that is not always a possibility. We need to punish the criminal who make this stuff.

[NeedleCast]

12. American Parents Love to be Terrified

Meanwhile, with all the horrible things going being done to our children to poison and otherwise kill them, the number of children living to adult-hood is nearly 100%...

[Heywood J]

16. Except, as is being seen in Detroit,

they live to adulthood but fail in school or become criminals because they've been lead poisoned as children.

http://www.freep.com/article/20100516/NEWS01/5160413/High-lead-levels-hurt-learning-for-DPS-kids

[NoPasaran]

13. Kids today have it easy

I remember when we had to literally lick the paint off the walls if we wanted lead.

[Fleshdancer]

17. how?

Is it from the packaging or does it come from the actual processing of the juice? :shrug: