Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
Target Recalls Good & Gather Baby Food Over Lead Concerns
More than 25,000 containers of Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Purée, a store brand exclusively sold at Target, have been recalled nationwide due to potential lead contamination. The voluntary recall, affecting 4-ounce containers of the vegetable purée, was initiated after testing revealed elevated lead levels. While other flavors within the Good & Gather baby food line are available, this particular variety is the sole product being removed from shelves.
Recalled Product Details
A total of 25,600 containers of the Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Purée are subject to this recall. Target confirmed that the affected product was distributed and sold at its stores across the country. The recall is limited to two specific batches:
- Lot Number: 4169, Best by date of December 9, 2025
- Lot Number: 4167, Best by date of December 7, 2025
FDA Recall Classification and Health Risks
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially issued an alert to consumers regarding the potentially high lead levels in March. This alert has since been elevated to a Class II recall, indicating that consumption of the contaminated baby food may lead to temporary or reversible adverse health consequences. According to the FDA, exposure could cause temporary medical issues, particularly affecting the brain and other vital organs in young children.
A Class II recall is categorized as less severe than a Class I recall, which signifies a dangerous or defective product that could cause serious health problems or even death.
Potential Health Impacts of Lead Exposure in Infants
Although Target has not yet added this recall to its official recall listing, the presence of elevated lead levels in baby food presents significant health hazards to infants and young children. Lead, a toxic heavy metal, can accumulate in the body over time. Developing bodies of young children are more susceptible as they tend to absorb lead at higher rates.
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Consumption of excessive lead by babies can result in:
- Neurological damage
- Impaired brain development
- Lowered IQ scores
- Learning disabilities
- Behavioral problems
- Developmental delays
Scientific studies have cautioned that even minimal exposure to lead can cause irreversible harm to children’s health.
Dr. Sana Mujahid, a food safety expert, emphasized, ‘There is no safe level of lead exposure for babies and young children, who are especially vulnerable to negative health outcomes due to their small size and developing organ systems.’
Target’s Statement & FDA Safety Standards
Target issued a statement regarding the recall, asserting its commitment to safety standards and its requirement for suppliers like Good & Gather to adhere to all local, state, and federal safety regulations.
As of January 2025, the FDA mandated maximum lead levels in baby foods. For fruit, vegetable, grain and meat mixtures, yogurts, custards, puddings, and single-ingredient meats, the limit is set at less than 10 parts per billion (ppb).
Understanding Parts Per Billion (ppb)
Parts per billion (ppb) is a unit used to measure extremely small concentrations of a substance within another. Imagine one drop of lead in a billion drops of water. Ten ppb, therefore, would equate to ten drops of lead in that billion-drop pool.
While this may appear to be a minute amount, even low levels of lead are a cause for concern in baby food due to the vulnerability of infants.
For baby foods consisting of single-ingredient root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes, and dry infant cereals, the permissible lead limit is slightly higher at 20 ppb.
Consumer Guidance and Actions
Consumers who have purchased the recalled baby food are strongly advised to discard it immediately. Customers can also return the contaminated purée to the Target store where it was purchased to receive a full refund. Alternatively, they can contact Target Guest Relations at 800-440-0680 for refund information.
Dr. Mujahid advises parents who suspect their child may have consumed the recalled Good & Gather purée to consult with their pediatrician. Physicians can provide more information regarding lead testing for children.
Lead Testing for Children
A blood test is the most reliable method to determine lead levels in a child’s body. This is typically conducted through:
- Finger prick (capillary test)
- Blood draw from the veins (venous test – more accurate for confirmation)
Blood Lead Reference Value
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that no level of lead in blood is considered safe, federal authorities utilize a blood lead reference value (BLRV) of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) to identify children with elevated blood lead levels.
A microgram (µg) is one-millionth of a gram, and a deciliter (dL) is approximately 100 milliliters, or about half a cup.
Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) indicates that most children in the U.S. have blood lead levels below 1 µg/dL. NHANES data from 2011 to 2016 showed average blood lead levels for children under five to be around 0.83 µg/dL.
Sources of Lead Exposure
Common sources of lead exposure for children include:
- Chipping lead-based paint in older homes
- Contaminated water systems
- Less common sources: children’s clothing, stainless steel bottles, sippy cups, desks, toys, and jewelry
The CDC recently highlighted that imported foods, cosmetics, ceremonial powders, and traditional remedies from unregulated sources can also be potential carriers of lead. The agency has found dangerous lead levels in certain spices imported from Vietnam, India, and Syria.