Consumers, particularly infants, young children and pregnant women, should avoid eating Chaca Chaca, an imported chili-based candy from Mexico, because this product may contain excessively high levels of lead that could cause serious health problems, the Arizona Department of Health Services warned today.

"Lead is toxic to humans, especially infants, young children and developing fetuses, in both short- and long-term exposures, and can result in learning disabilities and behavioral disorders that could last a lifetime," said Christine Cervantez Young, an epidemiology specialist with the Department’s Office of Environmental Health.

Recent analysis of Chaca Chaca by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified that the candy may contain as much as 0.3 to 0.4 micrograms of lead per gram of product. FDA has recommended that children under age 6 should not consume more than 6.0 micrograms of lead each day from all food sources. Because of the large size of these candies, which are more than 30 grams in weight per piece, a young child eating one of these contaminated candies could ingest nearly twice the recommended level. FDA has placed the Chaca Chaca product on "Import Alert" to detain future shipments of the candy and prevent its importation into the United States. 

Pregnant women and parents of children who may have consumed Chaca Chaca should consult with their physician or health care provider to determine if further medical testing is warranted. Consumers in possession of Chaca Chaca candy should dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.