SAN ANTONIO – The Food and Drug Administration wants to reduce and limit the amount of inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal to protect children from potential developmental problems.
The proposal to the food industry limits the inorganic arsenic at 100 parts per billion. Most infant rice cereals already meet that or nearly meet that level, according to the FDA.
Gerber, the leading seller of infant rice cereals, said that its products already meet the proposed levels.
Babies' consumption of rice, which is primarily through rice cereal, is about three times greater than that of adults, according to the FDA. Most people consume the highest amount of rice, relative to their weights, at about 8 months of age.
Arsenic naturally occurs in the soil and water. Fertilizers and pesticides also contribute to levels.
Parents do not need to stop feeding rice cereals to their children, according to the FDA. However, the agency advised varying the diet with other iron-fortified grains like oatmeal and barley.
SelectBlinds.com goes cordless
SelectBlinds.com, a leading online retailer of window blinds, announced it is going 100 percent cordless.
The move comes as the Consumer Product Safety Commission has been focused on convincing retailers to do away with corded blinds because of the danger they pose to children.
An estimated 20 children a year are injured of strangled by cords, many of them hidden behind blinds, every year.
Cashew snack packs recalled
Snyder Lance is recalling some of its cashew snack packs because they may contain small pieces of glass.
The limited recall is for Emerald 100 Calorie Pack Roasted and Salted Cashew Halves and Pieces. They come in .62 oz seven packs.
No injuries have been reported. The company believes the source to be the raw cashews from a supplier under a specific lot code.
The best before dates on the cartons are Dec. 12, 13, 18 and 21 of 2016.
Click here for the production codes.
HEB fan heaters recalled
If you purchased a small portable fan heater from HEB last fall, it may be subject to a recall.
CE North American has recalled 8,000 KUL white heaters with model number KU39221 and Date: 0715.
They can overheat and pose a fire hazard, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Consumers can contact the manufacturer at cemglobal.com for a refund.