Latest news with #MarkGonzalez
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Popular Salt Product Under Fire As Claims of 'Improper Levels of Heavy Metals' Mount
Another day, another class action lawsuit in the food world. A lawsuit initially filed in February by the California Federal Court claims that Fine Ground Celtic Sea Salt and Light Grey Celtic Sea Salt (both products of Celtic Ocean International LLC) are "contaminated with lead and arsenic." According to the public filing from ClassAction, heavy metal testing has been performed and tested positive for 460 ppb (parts per billion) of lead and 140 ppb of arsenic. For reference, in bottled water, the FDA currently allows a maximum of 5 ppb of lead, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allows for 15 ppb of lead in public drinking water (such as tap water from the pipes).The Plaintiff, Mark Gonzalez of Los Angeles County, is filing the claim individually and "on behalf of all others similarly situated." The suit is claiming that "no level of lead exposure is safe," and that the Good Manufacturing Practice Quality Product label, among other packaging details, insinuates that the sea salts are "healthy." The lawsuit alleges that Celtic Ocean International LLC has failed to warn consumers and is exposing them to unlawful lead contamination, which could lead to damage in the organs, negatively impact the cardiovascular system, and accumulate over time, leaving chronic exposure. RELATED: "Once inside the human body, lead may travel to different tissues and organs, including the liver and kidneys, where it can cause damage to cells and tissues," the lawsuit said. Celtic Sea Salt is currently available at Amazon and Walmart. Considering that similar lawsuits have come to light, like General Mill's Cocoa Puffs being accused of having high levels of lead for $5 million back in 2024, the FDA is actively working on the Closer to Zero campaign. This initiative is meant to reduce childhood exposure to contaminants from foods by "developing new and improved testing methods to measure lower levels of contaminants in food." In the same vein, Ziploc was just accused of deceptive labeling. The lawsuit argues that the labeling "microwave safe" and "freezer safe" ignore that microplastics may seep into your Salt Product Under Fire As Claims of 'Improper Levels of Heavy Metals' Mount first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 26, 2025
Fox News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
LA Mayor Bass claims immigration enforcement creating ghost town effect comparable to COVID lockdowns
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass compared the economic impact of immigration raids on small businesses to government lockdowns imposed by her party on California during the coronavirus pandemic, in an interview on Sunday. Bass made the comments after visiting several small businesses and residential areas in the predominantly-Latino community of Boyle Heights that morning, along with Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, D-Los Angeles, according to The Los Angeles Times. The mayor described observing vacant businesses and residents who were afraid to leave their homes to celebrate Father's Day. "Mariachi Plaza was completely empty. There was not a soul there," Bass told The Times. "One restaurant, there were a handful of people. The other restaurant, there was literally nobody there." Bass decried the raids, arguing that immigrant labor was essential to the city's economy, particularly in the construction, retail and restaurant industries, but raids had created a climate of fear that was hurting businesses. "It's the uncertainty that continues that has an absolute economic impact," she continued. "But it is pretty profound to walk up and down the streets and to see the empty streets. It reminded me of COVID." Los Angeles was placed under some of the strictest restrictions in the nation during the coronavirus pandemic, closing churches, schools, and enforcing stay-at-home orders and mask mandates. It was also the top county in the nation with COVID-19 cases. Restaurant operators in the community reportedly told Bass that their businesses were suffering even worse now than they did during the lockdowns because immigrants weren't showing up to work and people had less disposable income to eat out because they weren't working. One restaurant owner was in tears over the situation, according to Assemblymember Gonzales. "He said, 'It's so empty. I've never seen it like this, and I don't know how we can survive this,'" Gonzales recalled, according to the Times. The business owner blamed President Donald Trump for the impact to his business. "For somebody who's supposed to be business oriented, he sure is allowing local businesses to sink and have the effect that these raids are having," the man said, according to Gonzales. The Trump administration has shifted its immigration strategy in the past week, according to a report by The New York Times. The administration ordered a pause on deportation raids on agricultural sites, hotels and restaurants, and not to arrest "noncriminal collaterals." The move came out of fears that the sweeping raids were hurting key industries in the U.S. However, immigration officials were reportedly told to continue raids at farms, hotels, and restaurants. Immigration protests began in L.A. on June 7, after local ICE raids resulted in hundreds of arrests, including the arrests of those with violent criminal histories. The president immediately deployed the National Guard to the area when protests started two weeks ago, garnering criticism from Democrats insisting their presence would only escalate tensions. During the riots, looters were captured on video vandalizing and ransacking several Los Angeles stores. While major chains like Apple took the brunt of the robberies, local businesses were also caught in the crossfire. Some local business owners directed their outrage toward the rioters and city leaders. "We are sick and tired of it," Paul Scrivano told "Fox & Friends First" last week. "We have no one in charge. I would go so far as to say we have children in charge of Los Angeles right now."
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Bill aims to crack down on copper theft
Sacramento may be offering some help in the ongoing battle against copper theft in the state. Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles) has proposed Assembly Bill 476, which would require better recordkeeping regarding the purchase of scrap metal, among other changes. 'These measures will increase transparency, discourage illicit sales and ensure accountability throughout the recycling and resale process,' said an analysis of the bill reported by LAist. Copper thefts have plagued Southern California in recent years, resulting in darkened streets and prompting anti-theft measures from local government officials. Graffiti demands 'lazy' city fix lights on 6th Street Bridge Targets have included the 6th Street Bridge, which was planned to be a 'ribbon of light' but instead became a dark annoyance for neighbors. Gonzalez said 38,000 feet of copper wire — that's more than seven miles — were taken from the 6th Street Bridge alone. 'These crimes go beyond financial losses; they create unsafe conditions for residents and businesses by leaving streets, neighborhoods and business corridors in complete darkness,' he said, as reported by LAist. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
