Baby Food Lead Lawsuit Filed

If you’ve purchased children’s or baby food products lately, listen up: A class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of consumers who purchased certain Coca-Cola, Gerber, Hain Celestial and Mott’s products. The lawsuit alleges these companies failed to report that excessive levels of toxic lead were found in 125 products marketed to children and babies, such as apple juice, grape juice, packaged pears and peaches (including baby food) and fruit cocktail. The following products were specifically mentioned in the lawsuit as containing high levels of lead:

Earth’s Best Organic Apple Juice

Del Monte Pear Halves

Gerber 100% Juice Apple Juice

Gerber 3D Foods Peas

Gerber 3D Foods Peaches

Minute Maid Juice Apple – 100% Apple Juice

Motts 100% Apple Juice

Several studies cited in the class action lawsuit report that children are more sensitive than adults to the harmful effects of toxic lead, and can absorb as much as five to 10 times more lead than adults do. The toxic lead accumulates in their bones, teeth, blood and brain and can lead to irreversible neurological damage as wells as increase their risk of lung, stomach and bladder cancer later in life. Because of this, the lawsuit states, “defendants need to be particularly vigilant to ensure that their food products do not contain harmful chemicals that might have both short- and long-term health effects, even at potentially vary small exposure levels.”

The class action lawsuit goes on to state that the defendants were either aware or should have known their food products contained lead in amounts that could harm children, yet none of their labels or marketing disclosed that their products could contain lead or warned of the potential health effects associated with lead ingestion.

If certified, the class action lawsuit will seek damages and monetary relief for all consumers who purchased contaminated products from Coca-Cola, Gerber, Hain Celestial and Mott’s. We’ll keep you posted as this class action proceeds.