Two popular brands of organic kids’ snack products have high levels of lead, with one item exceeding the maximum allowable limit, according to a new report by Consumer Reports (CR). The organization tested six kids’ snack items made from sorghum or cassava for the presence of lead. Two products each from Lesser Evil, Serenity Kids, and Once Upon A Farm brands were tested.
Lead poisoning is a big concern as it poses a risk of childhood developmental issues like autism, lower IQ, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The organization measured lead presence in the items as a percentage of California’s maximum allowable dose level (MADL). This measure was used because there is currently no federal limit for lead in most foods.
Lesser Evil’s two products performed the worst, with its “Lil‘ Puffs Intergalactic Voyager Veggie Blend” showing a lead level at 112 percent of the allowable level. Lead presence in “Lil’ Puffs Sweet Potato Apple Asteroid” was 60 percent. Serenity Kids’s “Grain Free Puffs, Tomato & Herbs, Bone Broth” had a lead level of 53 percent, while lead presence in “Grain Free Puffs, Carrot & Beet” was 17 percent.
Products from Once Upon A Farm had the lowest lead level of the bunch, with 6 percent found in “Organic Fruit & Veggie Puffs, Apple, Sweet Potato & Coconut” and 3 percent in “Organic Fruit & Veggie Puffs, Mango, Carrot & Coconut.” Lesser Evil and Serenity Kids, two brands with the highest lead levels, used organi.
