HEALTH WARNING ON LEAD-CONTAMINATED CHAPULINES (GRASSHOPPERS)

The following is a summary of a November 13, 2003 press release from the California Health Department:

SACRAMENTO - Consumers, particularly pregnant women and children, should avoid eating chapulines (grasshoppers) from Oaxaca, Mexico, because they may contain excessively high levels of lead that could cause serious health problems, State Health Director Diana M. Bont, R.N., Dr.P.H., warned today.

"Lead is toxic to humans, especially infants, young children and developing fetuses, in both short- and long-term exposures," said Bont. "Lead can cause damage to the central nervous system, resulting in learning disabilities and behavioral disorders that could last a lifetime."

Residents from some regions of Mexico eat chapulines (chap-oo-lean-s) as a traditional snack food. Chapulines are usually prepared with ingredients such as garlic, salt, limejuice or a red chili powder coating. They are not widely available in commercial distribution and usually brought into the United States by individuals who have recently visited Oaxaca or other parts of Mexico. The product, often a dull red color, is sold in small, unlabeled bags at Hispanic retail food stores, in restaurants and at flea markets.


Recent analysis of chapulines from Oaxaca, Mexico, showed that they may contain as much as 2,300 micrograms of lead per gram of product. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that children under age 6 should consume on average no more than 6.0 micrograms of lead each day from all food sources. A young child eating one of these highly contaminated chapulines could ingest nearly 60 times his or her tolerable daily intake for lead. While some of the chapulines analyzed contained no detectable lead, consumers have no practical way of determining if the product is contaminated with lead. The source of lead in the chapulines from Oaxaca is under investigation.


Pregnant women or parents of children who may have consumed chapulines should consult with their physician or health care provider to determine if testing for lead poisoning is needed.


For more information on lead poisoning,

Call the LeadLine:
503-988-4000 (Portland Metro Area)
800-368-5060 (Outside the Portland Metro Area)