On September 16, Sprout Organics voluntarily recalled one lot of their Sweet Potato, Apple, & Spinach Pouches due to potential lead contamination.
The 3.5 oz pouches were sold in Walgreens and some independent stores in the U.S. South region, primarily between September 2024 and December 2024. Walgreens was the only major grocery chain to receive the contaminated lot, but other retailers such as Walmart and Kroger have since removed the product from their websites. While testing revealed high levels of lead in the contaminated lot, no illnesses have been reported to date. No other Sprout Organics products were impacted by this voluntary recall.
Sweet Potato, Apple, & Spinach Pouch (3.5 oz), Sprout Organics
Image Source: Sprout Organics
Why Is This a Concern?
Heavy metals, such as lead, can sometimes be found in baby food. They occur naturally in the environment and may also be introduced during food processing and packaging. To address this, California signed Assembly Bill 899 into law, which requires baby food companies to test for heavy metals and share the results publicly on their website.
A study by Consumer Reports and Unleaded Kids found that while some companies make results easily available, other brands, such as Sprout Organics, require parents to scan QR codes or enter lot codes from the product itself (1). For busy parents, this process can be time-consuming and may increase the risk of errors when trying to find the safest brands for their child.
Even at low levels, there is no safe level of lead. Exposure can affect a child’s brain development, growth, and overall health. This recall emphasizes the importance of food safety for our youngest consumers. It also highlights the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ongoing Closer to Zero plan, which aims to reduce heavy metals in foods commonly eaten by babies and young children.
How to Check Your Pouch
Flip the pouch over and look at the bottom strip on the back for the lot code and expiration date.
If your pouch shows lot code 4212 with a best by date of 10/29/2025, it is included in the recall. The FDA announcement also provides product photos for reference.
What Should You Do?
- Do not serve this product to your child.
- Discard the product or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
- Call your healthcare provider if you are concerned about potential lead exposure and ask about a blood lead level test.
- Questions? Contact Sprout Organics at info@sproutorganics.com or at 510-833-6089 (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.).
- Sign up for our newsletter for the latest lead-related product recalls.
Take a quick look in your pantry and share this alert with friends, family, and neighbors! A little awareness goes a long way in keeping kids safe.
Read the full FDA announcement here.
Reference
- Waller, J.D. (2025, August 7). Best baby food companies for reporting lead, arsenic, and other toxic elements. Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/baby-food/baby-food-labels-heavy-metals-california-ab899-a5779555429/