Get The Lead Out: What An Applesauce Recall Tells Us About Our Food Supply
If you believed this toxic element had been eradicated, think again. GiphyNews that is entertaining to read
Subscribe for free to get more stories like this directly to your inboxBack in the day, lead was in all kinds of things — from paint to gasoline. Decades ago, scientists warned of the serious health risks associated with exposure to the element, and a massive effort was soon underway to eradicate such threats … but it didn’t completely solve the problem.
Recent recalls
Pouches of cinnamon applesauce were recalled last year after troubling levels of lead were found in them. Months later, other cinnamon-flavored foods were recalled for the same reason.
This might’ve seemed like an anomaly, but evidence shows that lead is more common in the U.S. food supply than many would assume. And in cities like Chicago, lead pipes are still being used that transport the dangerous element directly into hundreds of thousands of homes.
The average levels of lead dropped by nearly 80% for all but the oldest Americans between the years of 1978 and 1991.
Other nations weren’t so diligent, though, and lead use actually increased in many parts of the country. Items originating from these countries — including spices like cinnamon — can contain dangerous levels of lead.
Pollution, battery production, and even ammunition can also result in potentially unsafe exposure.
“A toxin like no other”
Cracking down on imports of common items containing lead is a good place to start, but developing nations are still at an elevated risk of encountering dangerous levels of the stuff. And experts say even a little bit is too much. Exposure can result in developmental or behavioral problems in children and serious illness or death in adults.
Calling lead “a toxin like no other,” Stanford University’s Stephen Luby noted that it’s particularly dangerous because it often goes unnoticed.
“We don’t think about it,” he said. “When dad dies of a heart attack, we don’t blame it on lead.”