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A recall of fruit cocktails sold at Walmart has been classified over fears that the product could be tainted with a toxic heavy metal.
Earlier this month, the store issued an alert for more than 44,000 cans of its Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice from Concentrate sold in seven states across the West, South and Northeast.
Tests found that the product contained elevated levels of lead, a heavy metal to which health officials say there is ‘no known safe level of exposure.’
Now, the FDA has classified the recall as Class II, the second highest risk category, which means the product could cause temporary ‘adverse health consequences.’
Lead is toxic to humans and can affect people regardless of their age or health status.
A single exposure to lead may not cause symptoms, but repeated exposures over months and years raise the risk of complications.
In young children, chronic exposure has been linked to learning disabilities, behavioral problems and lower IQ. In adults, it has been tied to kidney damage, neurological problems and high blood pressure.
It was not clear how much lead the cans contained.
The alert was issued for a fruit cocktail sold in Walmart in seven states across the West and South
In the recall notice, the fruit cocktail was listed as being sold in 15oz cans with a best-before date of September 2027.
It was sold in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wyoming.
The fruit cocktail cans have a lot number, which is listed near the barcode, of 6FCB 04 C2263.
The fruit cocktail was supplied to Walmart by Pacific Coast Producers, an agricultural company in California.
In previous cases, lead in fruit has been traced back to orchard soil, which can hold lead from pesticides sprayed decades ago. Trees can draw it up through their roots and add it to fruit.
Juice concentrates have also been blamed, including imported concentrates. These blend juice from many sources and are boiled down, which can concentrate any lead they contain.
Advice for consumers was not issued for this recall, but in previous cases people have been urged not to consume products contaminated with high lead levels and to discard them immediately.
They have also been told that they can contact the seller for a full refund.
Shown above is the Great Value Fruit Cocktail in Fruit Juice From Concentrate that has been recalled
It is at least the second time that canned fruit cocktails from Pacific Coast Producers have been recalled.
In October last year, more than 62,000 cans of its fruit cocktail from the company were also recalled over fears of elevated levels of lead.
The cans contained diced peaches and pears as well as grapes, peach pulp, pineapple sections, halved cherries and concentrated pear juice.
They were sold in Walmart and Wegmans stores in 27 states.
