The March 12, 2025, recall on Target's Good & Gather baby food products raised significant concerns about food safety for our youngest and most vulnerable consumers. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) terminated the recall in May, Oregon health officials recently reported that two babies who consumed the affected product showed elevated blood lead levels.
As a law firm dedicated to holding companies accountable for dangerous products, Wisner Baum is committed to keeping parents informed about potential risks to their children's health and safety. Our law firm is currently pursuing lawsuits on behalf of more than 6,000 children who consumed baby foods from several major brands (Important Note: Target is not a defendant in the baby food autism litigation).
If your child was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after consuming foods from any of the following brands, you may qualify for a legal claim. Fill out our free case evaluation form to see if you are eligible for a baby food lawsuit.
Details of the Target Good & Gather Baby Food Recall
On March 12, 2025, FRUSELVA USA of Miami, Florida initiated a recall of approximately 25,600 units of Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Puree due to elevated levels of lead discovered during routine testing. The recall was subsequently classified as a Class II recall by the FDA on April 3, 2025, indicating a potential health risk that may cause temporary or reversible health consequences. In May of 2025, the recall was terminated.
What does it mean when the FDA terminates a recall?
“A recall will be terminated when the Food and Drug Administration determines that all reasonable efforts have been made to remove or correct the product in accordance with the recall strategy, and when it is reasonable to assume that the product subject to the recall has been removed and proper disposition or correction has been made commensurate with the degree of hazard of the recalled product.”
July 2025 Recall Update
Two babies in Oregon developed lead poisoning after consuming the recalled Target baby food, Oregon health officials reported in early July 2025. The lead poisoning news prompted renewed warnings from the Oregon Health Authority, which emphasized that even though the FDA considers the recall "terminated," families may still have these dangerous products in their homes because the “best by” dates affected by the Target recall last until December 2025. This means that unopened pouches may still be circulating in your pantry, travel bags, or other places.
Which Flavor Was Recalled?
It’s important to note that only one specific flavor is affected by this recall:
- Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Puree in 4-ounce pouches.
No other Good & Gather baby food flavors or products are included in this recall.
Here are the specifics of the recalled product:
- Product Name: Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Puree
- Size: 4 oz. (113g) pouches
- Intended Age: For infants 6+ months
- UPC Code: 1 91907-99314 1
- Affected Lots:
- Lot Number 4169 with Best By Date of December 9, 2025
- Lot Number 4167 with Best By Date of December 7, 2025
- Distribution: Sold nationwide at Target retail location
How Do I Know If I Have a Recalled Product?
Checking to see if you have an affected product is simple. If you have a Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Puree package, check the label for the following codes:
- Lot Number: 4169 (Best by Dec 09, 2025)
- Lot Number: 4167 (Best by Dec 07, 2025)
If your product has the above listed, do not use or serve it to your child.
What to Do if You Have the Product
- Stop using the product immediately.
- Check lot numbers on any Good & Gather baby puree pouches in your home.
- Discard the product or return it to Target for a full refund.
- Contact Target Guest Relations at 800-440-0680 for questions or assistance.
- If your child has consumed the product, consult with your healthcare provider about potential lead exposure.
Why Lead Exposure is Dangerous for Infants
Lead is a toxic heavy metal that poses serious health risks, particularly for young children whose bodies and brains are still developing. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. What makes lead exposure particularly concerning is that a child with lead poisoning may not immediately display obvious symptoms.
Potential health effects of lead exposure in children include:
- Developmental delays
- Learning disabilities
- Lower IQ scores
- Behavioral issues
- Lethargy and irritability
- In severe cases, seizures and coma
Even low levels of exposure over time can lead to significant health impacts, as infants and young children absorb lead more efficiently than adults, and their developing nervous systems are particularly vulnerable.
How to Recognize Lead-Exposure Symptoms in Infants
It can be tricky to determine lead exposure symptoms in infants. If you suspect exposure, request a simple blood lead test from your pediatrician. Below are some symptoms parents and caregivers should watch for:
- Tiredness or low energy
- Hyperactivity or crankiness
- Difficulty paying attention
- Poor appetite or weight loss
- Trouble sleeping
- Stomach aches, vomiting, or constipation
- Developmental delays or speech/hearing problems
Lead in Baby Food: A Growing Concern
Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal that persists in the environment due to historical industrial use and geological processes, resulting in trace amounts of lead contaminating soil, water, and air globally. These ambient levels inevitably lead to low concentrations of lead in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains, as plants absorb lead from soil and water during growth.
For most adults, exposure to these background levels poses minimal risk. However, infants and young children are uniquely vulnerable because their developing brains and bodies absorb lead more efficiently. As discussed above, even low exposures can impair cognitive development, lower IQ, and cause behavioral disorders.
The baby food industry has come under scrutiny for allowing dangerously high levels of lead in products marketed to this vulnerable population. Studies reveal persistent lead contamination in certain baby foods despite the FDA’s Closer to Zero initiative, which sets action levels of 10–20 parts per billion (ppb) for lead.
Numerous consumer safety advocates have found lead in hundreds of baby food samples, with certain products like grape juice, root vegetables, and teething biscuits often exceeding these limits.
Recent incidents, such as the recall of cinnamon applesauce pouches linked to acute lead poisoning in children, underscore systemic failures in sourcing and testing ingredients. While the
FDA’s guidance aims to reduce exposure, the baby food lawyers at Wisner Baum have long argued that lax enforcement and reliance on voluntary industry compliance perpetuate risks. For instance, spices, food additives, and other raw materials bypass rigorous screening, introducing lead into the finished product through contaminated processing methods and other means.
Ongoing Toxic Baby Food Litigation
The baby food products involved in this recall are not currently part of our ongoing litigation against other baby food manufacturers. However, the Target baby food recall and reports of elevated lead levels highlights the continuing concerns about heavy metal contamination in baby foods that our firm has been addressing through legal action.
Wisner Baum represents over 6,000 families in legal claims against several major baby food manufacturers, including Gerber, Earth's Best Organic, Happy Baby, Beech-Nut, and others. Our lawsuits allege defendant companies knowingly sold baby foods containing dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, which may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Do You Have a Child Diagnosed with Autism or ADHD?
You may qualify for a legal claim if your child has been diagnosed with autism or ADHD after consuming baby foods from the following manufacturers:
Why Choose Wisner Baum?
- Our baby food lawyers represent thousands of families with cases against several manufacturers
- Wisner Baum managing partner R. Brent Wisner serves as co-lead counsel in the Toxic Baby Food MDL. Attorneys and partners Monique Alarcon and Pedram Esfandiary also serve on the plaintiff’s leadership.
- We have earned more than $4 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients across all practice areas
- No fees unless we win your case
Staying Informed About Product Safety
The Good & Gather recall serves as an important reminder for parents to stay vigilant about product safety. We recommend regularly checking for product recalls through the FDA website or this government recall page to ensure your family's safety.
At Wisner Baum, we believe that manufacturers must be held accountable for the safety of their products, especially those intended for our most vulnerable population—our children.
