Lead contaminated spice sold for curry at Target recalled

By Ty Tagami

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A curry spice sold at Target stores nationwide contains excessive levels of lead and is the subject of a food recall.

The company that makes Archer Farms Ground Turmeric is voluntarily recalling glass bottles of the spice sold at Target stores in Georgia and the rest of the country, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Turmeric is an ingredient in Indian, Middle Eastern and South Asian cuisine and is used to make curry dishes.

Lead accumulates in the body and can damage health, especially in children. It affects mental and physical development and can produce learning deficiencies. Pregnant women, infants and small children are especially vulnerable.

The recall by spice maker B&M, Inc. of Mount Vernon, Mo. was announced Friday by Georgia's agriculture department. It affects 2.6 ounce bottles with "best by" dates from June 2011 to January 2012. The contaminated product was among shipments to Target stores from June 2009 to February 2010. The UPC code is 0-85239-02612-0.

Shoppers can return their turmeric bottle to the store where it was purchased. Anyone with questions can call B&M, Inc. during business hours at (877) 321-5852 or Target toll-free at (800) 316-6151.