More Mexican candy recalled due to high lead levels

May 7, 2008 - 11:14 PM

An El Paso distributor has voluntarily recalled another type of Mexican candy because of high lead levels.

Mexican Specialty Products El Loco, Inc., is recalling JOVY brand of Acirrico Sour and Hot Powder, manufactured by Procesadora de Alimentos Cale, S.A. de C.V.

The candy is made of orange grains, packaged in white plastic containers with a red, shaker-style lid. The label has red letters and a picture of a red chile above the product's name, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

DSHS tested the product and found it had lead levels from 0.2 to 0.4 parts per million. Levels above 0.1 parts per million are considered a health hazard by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Products containing lead are particularly dangerous for infants, children and pregnant women, and can result in delayed development and learning deficiencies in children, DSHS says.

DSHS recommends that people who have purchased the candy return it or throw it away. Children who have eaten the candy might need to have a blood test to measure lead levels.

This is the fourth recall of Mexican candy in Texas in the last six months.