'Health halo' foods eaten by millions found to contain toxic lead linked to autism, cancer
Officials are sounding the alarm over an ingredient in hundreds of health foods over fears that it may increase the risk of autism and cancer.
Cassava flour, made by grating and drying the fibrous cassava root, is used as a substitute for wheat and other flours in gluten-free and paleo-friendly chips, cookies and other snacks.
However, the watchdog Consumer Reports has found these foods contain concerning levels of the toxic metal lead, which gets into the products in cassava.
Health officials at the organization recently tested 27 popular cassava-made food items and found that nearly all of them had dangerous levels of lead.
James Rogers, Head of Food Testing said in a statement: 'With the exception of some spices, we've never seen lead levels this high as we found in these cassava products.'
Previous studies have linked lead exposure in children to learning disabilities, along with damage to the kidneys, reproductive, cardiovascular and digestive systems and autism spectrum disorder.
Frequent exposure in adults is also linked to immune system suppression, increased risk of cancer, reproductive issues and kidney damage.
Thrive Market has pulled and is investigating its cassava chips on the back of the findings.
MadeGood has stopped using the flour in its crackers and Lesser Evil has begun phasing it completely out of its product line.
However, brands such as Bob's Red Mill and Pamela's noted that their cassava products already carry California 's Proposition 65 warning labels - alerting buyers to potential lead content.
Due to the products' widespread sale, the agency has asked consumers to reduce their number of servings of cassava products per week.
Additionally, they found that that seven cassava products currently on the market had such high levels of lead that they advise avoiding those products entirely.
These include Bob's Red Mill Cassava Flour, Otto's Naturals Organic Multi-Purpose Cassava Flour, Quay Naturals Premium Cassava Flour, 365 Whole Foods Market Sea Salt Cassava Tostones Cassava Chips, Jovial Organic Grain Free Cassava Spaghetti, Terrasoul Superfoods Cassava Flour and Thrive Market's Cassava Chips with Sea Salt.
Several studies have found that cassava can be a significant source of lead exposure through food in people who eat it frequently.
A 2015 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health study found that cassava grown in one region of Ghana was high enough in lead to raise the risk of health problems among people who ate it regularly.
Moreover, a 2013 Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health study also found that lead levels in blood in people living in the Amazon were nearly four times higher than acceptable levels in the US.
In the US, the Food and Drug Administration has determined that there is no safe level of lead exposure in adults or children.
While lead exposure can be toxic for everyone, children younger than six years of age are at greatest risk for problems from it as their bodies absorb lead more easily - leading to lead poisoning.
Lead poisoning occurs when minuscule amounts of the metal builds up in the body, often over months or years.
Although lead-based paint in older buildings are most likely to cause poisoning, lead contaminated food, water and air can also affect children.
Many children with lead poisoning have no symptoms but even low levels of the metal in their blood can lead to learning and behavior problems, such as trouble paying attention.
Over time, these difficulties can push them towards the autism spectrum - as evidenced by numerous studies.
Apart from this, lead exposure in adults can also lead to high blood pressure, kidney damage, increase the risk of cancer, reduce fertility and neurological issues.
Numerous studies have shown that lead exposure either through paint, dust or food can increase risk of lung, kidney and brain cancer in those exposed - particularly workers.
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