The Los Angeles Post

CDPH Warns Consumers Not to Eat Eight Varieties of Dried Plums Due to Potential Lead Levels

by · Published · Updated

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today announced a warning that consumers should not eat eight specific types of dried plum products (also known as Saladitos) imported from China and Taiwan. Tests conducted by CDPH found unacceptable levels of lead. Consumers in possession of these specific types of Saladitos should discard the products immediately.

Recent chemical analysis by CDPH’s Food and Drug Laboratory Branch determined that these Saladitos contained as much as 33.25 micrograms of lead per serving. Children under age six should not consume more than 3.0 micrograms of lead per day as a total from all dietary sources.

The affected Saladitos were sold at retail stores throughout California in late 2021 through early 2022. Photographs and the following labeling descriptions can be used to identify Saladitos with elevated levels of lead:

Product Packaging Description Lot Codes Lead Result Lead per Serving
El Chavito – Salted Plums with Chili Plastic bag – net weight 1.7 oz – cartoon boy on label N/A 260 ppb 10.5 µg
El Chavito – Dried Salted Plums Plastic bag – net weight 1.7 oz – cartoon boy on label N/A 200 ppb 9.6 µg
El Super Leon Saladitos Dry Salted Plums with Chili and Chamoy Plastic bag – net weight 16 oz – cartoon yellow and red lion 20210202 270 ppb 13.01 μg
El Super Leon Saladitos Dry Salted Plums Plastic bag – net weight 16 oz – cartoon yellow and green lion 20210128 690 ppb 33.25 μg
La Fiesta Saladitos Con Chile – Salted Plums with Chile Plastic bag – net weight 1 oz – red, green, and yellow packaging N/A 240 ppb 9.6 μg
Lupag Salted Plums – Saladitos Plastic bag – net weight 0.5 oz – white, yellow, and red packaging N/A 1060 ppb 7.42 μg
El Leoncito Ponchin Dry Salted Plums with Chili Plastic bag – net weight 1.5 oz – red and clear packaging with small yellow lion 20211101 280 ppb 8.4 μg
Spice and Chili – Saladitos with Chili Plastic bag – net weight 16 oz – clear packaging with small white label N/A 630 ppb 18.9 μg

Pregnant women and parents of children who may have consumed these Saladitos should consult their health care provider to determine if medical testing is needed.

In response to the elevated levels of lead in these products, voluntary recalls have been conducted by multiple firms in California and Washington.

Anyone finding these products for sale should call the CDPH Complaint Hotline at (800) 495-3232 or submit an electronic report here. More information is available on the CDPH Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Page.