Attorney General Bonta Issues Consumer Alert After Testing Finds Dangerous Levels of Lead in Dried Plum Fruit and Candy Products

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert after testing revealed dangerous levels of lead in a number of dried plum fruit and candy products sold by retailers in California. Attorney General Bonta also sent letters to retailers directing them to immediately remove these contaminated products from their shelves. Many of these products appear to be marketed to children, whose developing brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to lead’s damaging effects. Under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, also known as Proposition 65, products that cause lead exposures in excess of 0.5 micrograms per day cannot be sold without a Proposition 65 warning, and a number of the plum fruit and candy products tested contained levels of lead that far exceed this maximum allowable dosage. Moreover, under other provisions of California law, none of these products are permitted to be sold in California at all.

“When Californians go into a supermarket to purchase their favorite treat, they shouldn’t have to worry about whether that product might harm them or their children,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The fact is: Lead is a known public health hazard, and exposure to this neurotoxin can have lasting health consequences. Testing by my office revealed dangerous levels of lead in dried plum fruits and candies being sold at retail outlets across our state. We’re directing retailers to remove these products from their shelves, but if you already have them in your pantry, please check to see if they match the products we’ve identified – and do not consume them if so.”

IDENTIFY CONTAMINATED PRODUCTS: Testing found dangerously high levels of lead in samples of the products listed below. If you have purchased dried plum fruit and candy products, check the label and discard any products that match the description of those identified below. These products may be hazardous to you and your children’s health.

KNOW THE HEALTH RISKS: Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can cause harm to the developing brain of fetuses and young children. Possible impacts of lead exposure to children include behavioral issues, reduced cognitive abilities, slowed body growth, hearing problems, and kidney damage. At high enough levels, lead exposure can also cause cancer. There is widespread scientific consensus that there is no safe level of lead exposure.

REPORT ILLEGAL SALES OF PRODUCTS: California law prohibits the sale of candies containing chili that have a lead level in excess of 100 parts per billion (ppb), or 0.1 micrograms per gram. A separate provision of California law prohibits the sale of products marketed to children that contain high levels of lead.  If you encounter any of the products listed above, please file a complaint with our office at www.oag.ca.gov/report.

This alert is also available in Spanish (Español), Chinese – Simplified (简体中文), and Chinese – Traditional (繁體中文).