Environmental health advocates are praising a new proposal from the Food and Drug Administration to set stricter limits on lead in children's candy. Federal officials say Mexican candies flavored with tamarind or chili may contain unacceptably high levels of lead. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.
The new FDA proposal on lead content in candy is much more restrictive than the current limit. Agency officials say the new level will ensure that candies eaten by small children don't pose a risk.
Laura Cushing is research director with the Oakland-based Center for Environmental Health. She applauds the
FDA's move, but says the agency must do a better job in enforcement and education.
Cushing: "Because what we've seen consistently is that even though FDA puts out a warning about a certain brand of candy, that warning never gets down to the retail level in the neighborhood stores."
The Center for Environmental Health and the State of California are suing 15 candy makers for selling products that allegedly contain unsafe levels of lead.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
