Two Babies Diagnosed With Lead Poisoning Linked to Target Baby Food Recall
Two infants have been confirmed to have tested positive for lead poisoning, and the cases have been linked to baby food sold at Target.
A "firm initiated" recall for the baby food, sold under Target's Good and Gather brand, was issued on March 12, 2025, according to records from the Food and Drug Administration, which also states that a press release was never issued for the products by the Miami-based parent company, Fruselva USA.
The recall didn't start making headlines until more than a month after it was initiated, with many news and media outlets first reporting on the recall on or around April 16, 2025. Less than a month after the public headlines, on May 7, 2025, the recall was terminated.
According to the FDA, the recall was listed as a Class II, meaning there was some risk that the product could cause adverse health effects that could be "temporary or medically reversible." The products were believed to contain an "elevated level of lead."
Class II recall: a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote. - FDA
Which Baby Foods Were Recalled?
Now, nearly two months after the recall was terminated, and less than four months after it was initially released, two infants in Oregon have been confirmed to have lead poisoning that links back to the recalled baby food sold at Target, leading to concerns that consumers may still have these products in their homes as they don't expire until December 2025.
The recalled products include Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Puree, and include the lot numbers 4169 and 4167. They are marked with expiration dates of December 9, 2025, and December 7, 2025, according to the FDA.
Why Lead Exposure Is So Dangerous for Children
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns of the dangers of lead poisoning, particularly for children under six years of age.
The health effects of exposure are more harmful to children less than six years of age because their bodies are still developing and growing rapidly. Young children also tend to put their hands or other objects, which may be contaminated with lead dust, into their mouths, so they are more likely to be exposed to lead than older children. - CDC
The CDC says that children exposed to lead may not present with any "apparent acute symptons," but the impact of lead exposure, even in low levels, can result in a long list of developmental issues including behavioral and learning problems, hearing and speach impairments, lower IQ, and delayed growth and development.
In larger amounts, exposure to lead may lead to lead poisoning, which can result in physical symptoms like abdominal pain, constipation, anemia, and fatigue, as well as neurological symptoms like seizures, encephalopathy, and even coma.
How To Test for Lead Poisoning
If you have these products in your home, do not consume them or feed them to your child. If you suspect your child may have been exposed to lead, the CDC advises that you speak with your child's healthcare provider about getting tested for lead. The lead test typically involves a finger or heel stick or a blood draw.
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