Toxic Waste Nuclear Sludge Chew Bar Recall: Elevated Lead

Toxic Waste brand Nuclear Sludge chew bars manufactured by Candy Dynamics are being recalled from store shelves for exceeding the legal limit of lead content. 

The Nuclear Sludge candy bar recall was announced last week by the FDA after testing by California health officials showed a lead content of 0.24 parts per million (ppm) in a cherry-flavored bar. The legal limit for lead in food is 0.1 ppm.

As a result, Candy Dynamics has issued a recall for all Nuclear Sludge chew bars manufactured since 2007. The bars come in cherry, sour apple and blue raspberry flavors and have a net weight of 0.7 ounces. All of them have been discontinued.

The Nuclear Sludge chew bars were produced in Pakistan and distributed across the U.S. No other Toxic Waste products are affected by the candy bar recall. 

Although there have been no confirmed reports of illness or injury in connection to the candy bars, exposure to high amounts of lead could result in a risk of lead poisoning.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consider 10 milligrams of lead per deciliter of blood to be the level of concern for exposure to lead. The CDC estimates that approximately 250,000 children in the U.S. have blood lead levels that high or higher.

Lead poisoning can result in nervous system injury, brain damage, seizures or convulsions, growth or mental retardation, coma and even death for young children. 

While high levels of lead exposure are often the focus of scientists, recent research has highlighted the effects of even low levels of exposure to lead on children. Other studies have tied low lead exposure to the development of kidney damage and depression and panic disorders.