California Warns Consumers Not To Eat Seng Chen PiMei Candy

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 12 Jun 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), warned consumers not to eat SENG Chen PiMei Candy, after tests by CDPH found unacceptable levels of lead. Consumers in possession of the candy should discard it immediately.

Chen PiMei Candy is manufactured by SENG in China and imported by TJIAT SENG EXIMI in Singapore. CDPH is currently working with the distributor to ensure that the contaminated candies are removed from the market place.

Chen PiMei Candy is sold in 250 gram clear plastic bags containing approximately 80 individually wrapped candies. The individual candies are wrapped in dark purple wrappers containing red and white Chinese characters and a picture of the plum fruit. The front of the plastic bag includes a large green rectangle containing Chinese characters in black, the name and logo for SENG and the name of the candy. A pink rectangle contains the importer's name and address. Illlustration of Chen PiMei Candy.

Recent analysis of this candy by CDPH determined that Chen PiMei Candy contained as much as 0.156 parts per million (ppm) of lead. California considers candies with lead levels in excess of 0.10 ppm to be contaminated.

Pregnant women and parents of children who may have consumed this candy should consult a physician or health care provider to determine if medical testing is needed.

Consumers who find Chen PiMei Candy for sale are encouraged to call the CDPH Hotline at 1-800-495-3232.

For more information about lead poisoning, contact your county childhood lead poisoning prevention program or public health department. Additional information and a list of local childhood lead prevention programs is available here.

Source
California Department of Public Health