Key Takeaways
- Publix voluntarily recalled GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food (4-ounce pouches) on May 9, 2025, due to elevated lead levels.
- Identification: GTIN 41415-00901 with a "Best If Used By" date of 11/01/2025.
- Recall affects products sold in eight states: AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, VA.
- Consumers who purchased the affected pouches should:
- Discontinue use immediately.
- Return to any Publix store for a full refund.
- Consult a pediatrician if concerned about lead exposure.
What to Know About the 2025 Publix Baby Food Recall
Recent testing has revealed potentially dangerous lead levels in a popular baby food product, prompting an immediate recall. On May 9, 2025, Publix Super Markets announced a voluntary recall of their GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea baby food pouches due to “the potential to be contaminated with elevated levels of lead.”
This concerning development adds to the growing number of infant food safety issues in recent years. Though the Publix recall is separate from ongoing litigation alleging that heavy metals in baby foods cause neurodevelopmental disorders, it is disturbing to see that lead, arsenic, and mercury continue to be found at dangerous levels in widely used products.
Details of the GreenWise Baby Food Lead Recall
The affected product is sold in 4-ounce plastic pouches and has been distributed to Publix grocery stores across their eight-state operating area, including:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
The recall specifically affects GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food with the following identification information:
- Product Size: 4-ounce pouches
- Global Trade Item Number (GTIN): 41415-00901
- Best If Used By Date: 11/01/2025
- Manufacturer: Bowman Andros LLC, a fruit processing facility in Virginia
Publix has stated, “As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted products have been removed from all store shelves.” To date, there have been no reported cases of illness. The recall was initiated after routine sampling revealed the possibility of elevated lead levels in these baby food pouches. Parents who have purchased the affected products are urged to discontinue use immediately and can return the product to any Publix store for a full refund.
This recall follows closely behind a similar action taken by Target, which recently recalled one of its store-brand baby food items- Good & Gather Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Purée-also due to elevated lead levels.
Understanding the Dangers of Lead Exposure in Children
Lead is a powerful neurotoxin, particularly harmful to young children whose brains and bodies are still developing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to negatively affect a child's health and development.
The health effects of lead exposure can be serious and long-lasting, including:
- Damage to the brain and nervous system
- Slowed growth and development
- Learning and behavior problems
- Hearing and speech problems
- Lower IQ
- Decreased ability to pay attention
- Underperformance in school
What makes lead exposure especially concerning is that many children with elevated blood lead levels show no immediate symptoms. The CDC emphasizes that there is no known safe blood lead level for children. Even minimal exposure can cause harm.
Children under six years of age are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure. Their bodies absorb lead more readily than adults, and young children often put their hands or objects that may be contaminated with lead into their mouths. Children's developing brains and nervous systems are also more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has taken a strong stance on this issue, releasing policy statements calling for enhanced efforts to reduce lead exposure through all media, including drinking water sources. The AAP stresses that the goal should be moving toward zero lead exposure, underscoring that no level is safe for children.
The Broader Context: Heavy Metals in Baby Food Products
The Publix recall is part of a larger pattern of concern regarding toxic heavy metals in baby foods. In 2021, a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee report revealed alarming levels of heavy metals-including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury-in numerous popular baby food products sold by major manufacturers.
To put the numbers cited in the baby food report in perspective, the FDA allows a maximum level of just 5 parts per billion (ppb) lead in bottled water, which means some baby foods tested at over 100 times the acceptable level of lead.
Unfortunately, it’s been over four years since that report was released, and consumer advocates say painfully little has been done to protect children from neurodevelopmental harm wrought by toxic metals in certain baby food products.
The companies implicated in the congressional report include:
Toxic Baby Food Litigation
While the Publix recall is a distinct safety issue, it exists within the broader context of ongoing litigation against major baby food manufacturers. Wisner Baum is currently representing over 5,000 families with cases alleging that toxic metals in baby foods caused neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
The baby food lawsuits allege these companies knowingly sold- and continue to sell- products containing dangerous levels of heavy metals that can cause brain damage manifesting as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
California's first baby food trial is scheduled for July 2025 in Los Angeles. The case was filed on behalf of a young California boy and alleges products from several companies contain dangerous amounts of arsenic, lead, and mercury capable of causing autism spectrum disorder and ADHD.
Wisner Baum managing partner R. Brent Wisner will serve as co-lead counsel for the plaintiff in the case.
The Science Behind Heavy Metals and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Heavy metals pose a "major public health concern" for children, according to the World Health Organization. These toxic metals can build up in biological systems and become a significant health hazard, with consequences that might not be apparent for years.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ranks arsenic, lead, and mercury as the first, second, and third most significant potential threats to human health among environmental substances.
Research has linked these toxic metals to various developmental issues:
- Arsenic: Damage to brain development and cognitive function; lower IQ; links to autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Lead: Behavioral problems; decreased cognitive performance; significant association with ADHD; links to ASD.
- Mercury: Adverse neurodevelopment; association with autistic behaviors among preschool children; poorer estimated IQ.
A 2023 meta-analysis looked at 53 studies involving over 5,000 children and found that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had significantly higher concentrations of cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury compared to neurotypical controls.
What Parents Should Do About Lead in Publix GreenWise Pouches
If you have purchased GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food pouches, check the product identification details (especially the GTIN number and Best If Used By date) to determine if your product is affected by the recall.
If you have the recalled product:
- Stop using it immediately.
- Return it to any Publix store for a full refund.
- If you have concerns about potential lead exposure, consult your child's healthcare provider.
- For additional questions about the recall, contact Publix customer care at 1-800-242-1227.
Parents concerned about heavy metals in baby food more generally may want to:
- Limit rice-based products, which tend to contain higher levels of arsenic.
- Vary your baby's diet to minimize exposure from any single food source.
- If possible, consider making your own baby food using fresh ingredients.
- Stay informed about product recalls and safety warnings.
What is the Government Doing About Lead in Baby Foods?
The government's response to the mounting evidence about heavy metals in baby food has been slow since the subcommittee report on heavy metals in baby foods was released in February of 2021.
In January 2025, the FDA announced guidelines for lead levels in baby foods as part of its "Closer to Zero" initiative. The guidance sets action levels of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for most processed baby foods and 20 ppb for single-ingredient root vegetables and dry infant cereals.
California has taken the lead on regulatory action, passing a law mandating that baby food manufacturers conduct rigorous testing for dangerous heavy metals and make the results public on their websites. Baby food manufacturers in California must conduct monthly tests on representative samples of each product for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.
Maryland passed "Rudy's Law," which took effect in January 2025, requiring baby food manufacturers to test their products for toxic heavy metals.
Legislation has also been introduced in Virginia (House Bill 1844) to require heavy metal testing and public disclosure for baby foods starting in January 2026, but it has not yet taken effect.
Baby Food Autism Lawsuits Are Ongoing
The baby food lawyers understand that it is distressing to discover that the food you feed your children contains toxic heavy metals. Frustratingly, some companies knowingly sell products with high levels of heavy metals and refuse to issue baby food recalls.
If your child was diagnosed with autism or ADHD after regularly consuming baby foods from Gerber, Walmart, Hain, and other major companies, we want to help your family seek justice in a baby food lawsuit. We represent over 5,000 children in this litigation, and we are preparing to seek justice against these companies for knowingly selling toxic baby foods.
Call (855) 948-5098 or submit an online contact form today to start your free case evaluation.
