Publix recalls baby food pouches after testing finds elevated levels of
lead
[May 24, 2025]
By JONEL ALECCIA
The supermarket chain Publix has recalled fruit and vegetable baby food
sold in eight states because product testing found elevated levels of
lead, according to federal health officials.
Publix recalled 4-ounce Greenwise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food
pouches sold at more than 1,400 stores.
The pouches were produced by Bowman Andros, a French company with a
manufacturing plant in Mount Jackson, Virginia, according to the
company's website. Publix issued the voluntary recall on May 9, but it
wasn't added to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recall list until
late Thursday.
The potential contamination was flagged by officials in North Carolina,
the state that first identified a 2023 lead poisoning outbreak linked to
tainted applesauce pouches that sickened more than 500 U.S. children.
Routine sampling of the baby food pouches found lead levels at 13.4
parts per billion, according to North Carolina agriculture officials.
That exceeds the FDA's recommended limit of 10 parts per billion for
such products intended for babies and young children.
Publix said all the potentially contaminated products have been removed
from store shelves. No illnesses have been reported, the company said.
Customers can return the pouches to local stores for full refund.
This is the second baby food pouch recall because of potential lead
contamination in two months. In March, Target recalled more than 25,000
packages of its store brand Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale &
Thyme Vegetable Puree because of elevated lead levels.
North Carolina collaborates with the FDA to conduct routine testing of
food products, officials said.
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A Publix grocery store is seen, Aug. 9, 2023, in Neptune Beach, Fla.
(AP Photo/Mark Long, File)
 In 2023, state health officials
investigated reports of lead poisoning in four children who consumed
WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree. Those findings led to the
detection of a nationwide outbreak linked to the pouches, which were
widely sold in Dollar Tree and other stores. Tests showed they
contained lead at levels 2,000 times higher than the FDA's maximum
recommended level, as well as chromium.
Federal health officials eventually identified 566 cases of
confirmed, probable or suspected cases of lead poisoning tied to the
pouches in 44 states.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's childhood lead
poisoning program investigated the applesauce outbreak and
coordinated state and federal response. However, the program was
eliminated in April as part of federal funding cuts under the Trump
administration.
CDC officials didn't say whether or how the agency would respond to
a similar outbreak now. A spokesperson said the agency is aware of
the Publix baby food recall but hasn't been asked to assist with any
investigation.
There is no safe level of lead exposure, according to CDC. While the
heavy metal is toxic to people of all ages, it can be especially
harmful to children, causing damage to the brain and nervous system
and slow growth and development.
Heavy metals like lead can get into food products from soil, air,
water or industrial processes, according to the American Academy of
Pediatrics.
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