Phillips Law Group is investigating Serenity Kids Grain Free Puffs and Lesser Evils Lil’ Puffs children’s snacks for lead and other heavy metals after some recent alarming reports of high levels of lead in their products. The idea of heavy metals in children’s snacks is extremely upsetting and demands better testing and manufacturing practices, and if you or a loved one has been impacted by the inclusion of lead in children’s snacks, you may have legal options.
Reports of Heavy Metals in Children’s Snacks
According to findings released in June by Consumer Reports, some veggie puffs made by Lesser Evil and Serenity Kids have concerning levels of lead in them, CBS News reported. In just one example, Lesser Evil’s Lil’ Puffs Intergalactic Voyager Veggie Blend puffs had more lead per serving than any of the 80 baby foods Consumer Reports has tested since 2017.
In a statement, James E. Rogers, head of food safety testing at Consumer Reports, said, “We think kids should consume less than half a serving a day of those.”
These alleged findings are especially worrying because according to Canadian Family Physician – a monthly peer-reviewed open-access medical journal published by the College of Family Physicians of Canada – “Lead is a developmental neurotoxin. Children are most commonly exposed and they are most vulnerable. Lead exposure has been associated with many cognitive and motor deficits, as well as distractibility and other characteristics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.”
“Because post-exposure treatment cannot reverse the cognitive effects of lead exposure, preventing lead exposure is essential,” the medical journal noted.
It’s incomprehensible to think of children being exposed to lead or other heavy metals in children’s snacks, especially ones that claim to produce healthy, “nutrient-dense foods” like Serenity Kids asserts. If you believe your child may have been impacted, please don’t hesitate to contact our offices to discuss your options.
Childhood Lead Impacts
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Lead is extremely harmful to children younger than 6 years, and no safe blood lead level has been identified.”
Lead in the blood can cause the following health issues, according to the federal health agency:
- Developmental delays
- Difficulty learning
- Behavioral issues
- Neurological impact
Company Responses to Heavy Metals in Children’s Snacks Reports
Lesser Evil said that all of its products follow regulatory requirements, and the company told CBS MoneyWatch in a statement, “Lesser Evil was built on a mission to create better, cleaner, more natural products than the highly processed and refined snacks that overtook grocery store shelves for years.”
The company’s products “all meet GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) standards and federal regulations for organic products,” Lesser Evil noted, adding that “we conduct extensive testing for all Lesser Evil products that complies with California Prop 65 and federal standards.”
However, while stating that the company is “dismayed by the recent news,” Lesser Evil reported it is phasing out the use of cassava flour in its Lil’ Puffs line of products, CBS News reported.
In its own statement to the outlet, Serenity Kids said, “Our puffs are and have always been safe for consumption. All of our products test well below the Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) established by California Proposition 65.”
“We have always addressed lead and all heavy metals head-on because we are confident in the safety of our products and ingredients and because we believe that our products are healthier than the alternatives that exist today,” the company added.
Contact Phillips Law Group for Assistance
Despite these statements from the companies involved, it’s understandable that some parents may still have concerns about heavy metals in children’s snacks like Serenity Kids Grain Free Puffs and Lesser Evils Lil’ Puffs.
Please contact the team at Phillips Law Group for a free consultation to learn more about your options for a lead in children’s snacks claim. We offer a no-obligation, confidential consultation to discuss your circumstances. You pay nothing unless we move forward with a lawsuit that is successful and you recover compensation.
Give us a call at 602-222-2222 to see how we may be able to help you today.