The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified a Publix recall of a popular baby food item as a Class II recall, citing elevated levels of lead, cadmium and arsenic in the product.
The affected item, the “Greenwise Pear Kiwi Spinach & Pea Baby Food Pouch,” was distributed across eight Southern states.
Newsweek has contacted Publix outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The FDA‘s Class II recall designation means the agency believes exposure to the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or that the probability of serious health issues is remote but not negligible.
Heavy metals like lead, cadmium and arsenic are toxic at elevated levels and particularly dangerous when consumed over time by vulnerable groups such as infants. Long-term exposure may contribute to developmental delays, lower IQ and behavioral issues in children.
While not as urgent as a Class I recall, the Class II designation still indicates a serious public health matter that warrants consumer caution and attention.
Anthony Devlin/Press Association via AP
What To Know
The recall was initiated by Publix on May 9 and was classified by the FDA on June 3.
The affected product, the “Greenwise Pear Kiwi Spinach & Pea Baby Food Pouch,” comes in a 4 oz pouch, and is marketed for babies aged six months or older.
The product has a “Best if used by” date of November 1, 2025, and was packed in cases of 14 pouches. They had a lot code of 24BA306.
The baby food pouches were distributed across the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia and Kentucky. A total of 53,620 units were distributed, which equated to 3,830 cases.
What People Are Saying
Publix Director of Communications Maria Brous said: “As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted products have been removed from all store shelves. To date, there have been no reported cases of illness. Consumers who have purchased the product in question may return the product to their local store for a full refund. Publix customers with additional questions may call our customer care department toll-free at 1-800-242-1227 or visit our website at publix.com.”
First Focus on Children, a bipartisan advocacy organization, wrote on its website: “Heavy metals can contaminate food products at many steps of the food production process. Some heavy metals are introduced through fertilizers and insecticides, while other heavy metals occur naturally in soil and are absorbed by plants. Runoff from roads, factories, and dumping grounds can also pollute water sources used for crops. In addition to the agricultural process, heavy metals can be introduced into food products through fortified vitamins and minerals that are added during the manufacturing process.”
What’s Next
The recall remains ongoing. Consumers are urged to check packaging for the product label and best-by date and to avoid feeding the product to children under any circumstance.
Parents or caregivers who believe a child has consumed the recalled product and is exhibiting symptoms are advised to consult a pediatrician immediately.