Lead Contamination of Calabash Chalk
Tuesday 15 October 2002
Category B: For Action
Heads of Environmental Health Services and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising people, especially pregnant and breastfeeding women, not to eat a product commonly known as Calabash chalk, because samples testedhave revealed high levels of lead.
Calabash chalk is not a conventional food, but is eaten by some pregnant women, traditionally those from the Nigerian and the wider West African community, as a remedy for morning sickness.
Exposure to high levels of lead by pregnant and breast feeding women poses a risk to the mental development of their developing unborn baby and breast-fed infant.
Action taken by the Food Standards Agency
Having been alerted to the problem by a local authority, the FSA took further samples itself and arranged for samples to be taken by other local authorities.
The FSA's results to date have lead levels in the chalk ranging from 8.2mg/kg to 16.1mg/kg.
The chalk, also known as La Craie, Argile, Nzu, Mabele and Calabar stone, can be bought in ethnic shops and markets in the form of blocks, pellets and powders.
The product is generally sold loose, and there are no particular brands, batch numbers/codes or best before dates. Pictures can be viewed on the FSA website.
The FSA has today issued a press release and questions and answers sheet, which are also available on the FSA website.
The FSA and the Department of Health will work with health professionals and consumer groups to communicate this information to pregnant and nursing mothers, particularly in the communities who are likely to use Calabash chalk.
The FSA also intends to raise with the European Commission the possibility of proposing EU-wide measures to prohibit the sale of Calabash chalk.
Action to be taken by local authorities
Although there are alternative uses (eg as a traditional remedy for eczema and other skin disorders), the FSA's opinion is that Calabash chalk should be considered a food and so can be dealt with under the Food Safety Act 1990.
There are no statutory limits for levels of lead in Calabash chalk.
There is, however, a safety guideline set by the Joint WHO/FAO Expert Committee on Food Additives for the amount of lead people can be safely exposed to.
This takes into account the exposure to lead through diet, the environment and other factors.
The levels found in the samples would cause consumers to exceedthe safety guideline by 4.5-fold, before taking into account any additional exposure from other sources.
This is based on an estimated daily consumption of 60g.
Local authorities are requested to visit food businesses that may sell Calabash chalk, most likely to be ethnic shops and markets.
Should Calabash chalk (or any of the products alternatively named above) be on sale, the person operating the food business should be requested to voluntarily surrender the product.
If they are not prepared to do so, it should be detained and sent for lead analysis.
Local authorities should contact their Public Analyst for advice regarding sampling and analysis.
If the level of lead found is 1mg/kg or above, the FSA's opinion is that the product should be considered unfit for human consumption and subsequently seized under the Food Safety Act 1990.
Ultimately, whether or not a food is legally fit or unfit for human consumption is a matter for the Courts.
It is expected that action by local authorities will be initiated as soon as possible after receipt of this food hazard warning.
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