Illinois Recall: Fruit/Vegetable Pouches Due To Elevated Lead

With a little over 90 days left in 2025, Illinois has already seen multiple food product recalls for a variety of reasons. Here are just a few that we've had to deal with since January, along with the reason for the recall:

• Tuna salad (listeria)
• Frozen shrimp (potential contamination with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope)
• Frozen vegetables and fruits (salmonella)
• Raw dog and cat food (salmonella and listeria)
• Turkey wraps (listeria)

Now, you can add fruit and vegetable pouches for children to the mix, with this recall being for a different reason than the ones listed above.

By the way, if you're curious as to which food products are recalled more often than others, here's a breakdown:

• Fresh Produce (Fruits and Vegetables)
• Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry
• Seafood
• Baby Food and Infant Formula
• Packaged Snack Foods

Across the US, fresh produce is recalled more frequently than any other single category, followed closely by ready-to-eat meats and seafood. Baby foods get extra attention because even tiny contamination levels trigger recalls.

These Recalled Fruit And Vegetable Pouches Were Sold At Walgreens And Other Stores

As I mentioned, even tiny contamination levels in baby food products get extra attention and trigger recalls, but when you add in the wording "potentially elevated lead levels" you know that a recall is going to be announced, too.

FDA.gov:

Sprout Organics is expanding its September 16, 2025 recall of Sprout Organics® Sweet Potato Apple and Spinach, due to potentially elevated lead levels, to include additional lots.

The recall was initiated after routine testing detected potential lead contamination in certain batches. Lead exposure, even at low levels, can be harmful to children, potentially affecting learning and development.

The 3.5-ounce pouches were sold at Walgreens and other independent retailers in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

No other Sprout Organics products are affected by this recall. As of now, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products.

Here's What To Look For, And What To Do If You Have The Recalled Products

The recall now includes four specific lot codes: 4212, 4213, 4282, and 4310, with expiration dates ranging from October 29, 2025, to February 4, 2026. These products were sold at Walgreens, independent retailers in 28 states, and online.

If you have purchased any of the affected pouches, check the lot code and expiration date printed on the bottom strip on the back of the pouch. If they match the recalled lot codes and expiration dates, you should return the product to the store where it was purchased for a full refund. Or, you can contact Sprout Organics directly at 510-833-6089 or via email at info@sproutorganics.com.