OKLAHOMA CITY – A warning about candy imported from Mexico that may be contaminated with lead has been issued by the Oklahoma Poison Control center.
The warning comes after recent testing of two candies, Barrilito and Miguelito, by the California Department of Public Health found that Barrilito contained 0.15 parts per million of lead and Miguelito contained 0.13 parts per million of lead.
In California, candies with lead levels in excess of 0.1 part per million are considered tainted.
Barrilito is a thick, brown syrup that is sold in a clear glass jar with a yellow label and comes with an attached plastic spoon. Miguelito is a reddish-orange powder packaged in a plastic packet with the name Miguelito in large blue letters on a white background.
Montebello, Calif.-based TJ Candy Corp., the company that dispenses the sweets, has initiated a voluntary recall.
"For the safety of their children, parents need to be aware of the dangers of lead poisoning and heed government recall warnings. No exposure is the surest method for preventing lead poisoning," said Lee McGoodwin, managing director of the Oklahoma Poison Control Center.
The candies should be thrown out. Pregnant women and parents whose children have eaten the candies should talk with their doctor about testing, health officials said.
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