The Arizona Department of Health Services is issuing a consumer alert for consumers, parents of infants or young children, and pregnant women to avoid eating Dulmex Rollito de Tamarindo and Vero Vagabundo lollipops since these products may contain levels of lead that are above the U.S. Food and Drug Administration limits.

Dulmex Rollito de Tamarindo is a brownish tamarind pulp based candy in a clear wrapper with a bright orange label.  Vero Vagabundo is a hard candy strawberry lollipop with a chili dipping powder. In a recent analysis of  the Dulmex Rollito de Tamarindo, the California Department of Health Services (CDHS)  identified that the candy contains up to 0.59 micrograms of lead per gram of product (parts per million). The Vero Vagabundo’s chili powder was determined to contain up to 0.72 micrograms of lead per gram of product.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) guideline for lead in candy is 0.5 parts per million (ppm). The FDA recommends that children consume no more than 6.0 micrograms of lead each day from all food sources. Since most of these candies weigh 30 grams or more, a young child eating one of these candies is ingesting twice the recommended level.

Pregnant women and parents of young children who may have consumed Dulmex  Rollito de Tamarindo and/or Vero Vagabundo candy should  consult with their physician or health care provider to determine if further medical testing is warranted. Consumers are urged to dispose of these two products.

What do I do if my child or I have eaten candies that contain lead?
Consult your physician or your health care provider. Only a physician can recommend and perform a blood test to determine if further treatment is needed. Most adults and children with elevated blood lead levels do not have any symptoms.  As blood lead levels increase, so does the lead’s effect on health.

How can I tell if my candy contains lead?
Only a laboratory is qualified  to do the appropriate testing and determine whether the candy has lead or not.  If you have reason to suspect that you may have consumed lead in candy, or consumed the candies mentioned above, consult your physician for a blood test and/or treatment options.

How can I get more information about lead in candy?
The Arizona Department of Health Services is warning consumers, parents of infants or young children, and pregnant women to avoid eating candy imported from Mexico at this time.  For more information and advisories on lead in candy call us at 602-364-3118 or free at 1-800-367-6412.