City Issues Warning About Lead Tainted Ice Cream
By
KGNS News
Story Created:
Apr 12, 2012 at 5:47 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Apr 12, 2012
The city has confiscated several containers used by street vendors to hold ice cream and say those containers have tested positive for lead.
The City of Laredo Health Department is now issuing a warning about dangerous and illegal food vendors.
Our Annette Garcia has the story.
There's nothing better than some ice cream on a hot day.
Unless it's this ice cream.
The containers all have tested positive for lead.
Sold out of containers like these by vendors on the streets of Laredo, City Health officials say the homemade treat can pose a dangerous threat.
The vendors were selling without a permit and when the city confiscated seven steel containers and got them tested, all tested positive for lead.
“Can cause neurological problems can cause acute health issues wind up in the hospital with convulsions.”
Dr. Gonzalez says the homemade ice cream isn’t necessarily bad but when its put in containers like these that ice cream will absorb lead. And each time the spoon is scraped against the container another dose of lead is released.
“If you see vendors any type of frozen food, ice cream, palletas in these containers don’t buy it.”
Health Department officials don't know how many people were exposed and how much lead they were exposed to but don't believe it was very much.
Either way doctor Gonzalez says the public needs to ask vendors for a permit.
“We had 32 children a couple of years ago who got food poisoning because of illegal food managing. So yes look for it to be individually wrapped and yes ask for them to show you the permit.”
Health officials say they want people to continue their businesses but also want the public to be safe.
They remind vendors that everyone needs a permit to sell any food product.
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se la come said on Monday, Apr 16 at 12:41 PM
Sara Jo ate it, like Mikey, she eats anything.
87743735santos said on Saturday, Apr 14 at 1:25 PM
que es un "permit" aqui en laredo nadie necesita un "permit"
87579805Jack Strunk said on Saturday, Apr 14 at 8:47 AM
OH NO I love that stuff, can you bring me some?
87559316Sara in colorado said on Friday, Apr 13 at 3:32 PM
ya'll nasty anyway, you eat anything, from a cart, from a truck, from a shack, what is 1 more sorce of crud.
87503085UnitedLonghorn said on Friday, Apr 13 at 10:10 AM
If that happened to you at Guadalupe I can't imagine what would happen to you with the food at the Flea Market on TX 359.
87468305truth said on Friday, Apr 13 at 10:08 AM
Only picking on these vendors because they don't make money off them, I am sure a lot of you see the San Antonio news where they give a report of how well food places are doing here all we get is that silly whats cooking thing where the people handle food with not plastic gloves on and in a lot of cases nothing covering the head, that to me is a warning to stay away.
87468155SARA said on Friday, Apr 13 at 6:22 AM
The people that run your city crack me up, the city needs your help, the city has thousands of employees, or I should say do littles, assign a couple of them to check on stuff like this, don't through the responsibility onto the people."ask them to show you a permit" you don't even see them in resturants.And they act like it is only lead you should be concerned about.
87447055Dont Forget said on Friday, Apr 13 at 12:55 AM
Flea market food is bad I have gotten sick eating food from the Guadalupe flea market.Also check clothes from the flea markets,bed bugs galore,chiggers and even brown recluse spiders.You think you are getting a bargain,watch out!
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