This Snack Sold at Costco and other Grocery Stores Is Being Recalled For Potentially Containing Lead

Being a member at Costco comes with certain perks, such as free samples and discounts on travel and tires. It also means there's an inventory stashed away of what you buy. By keeping track of purchases, the warehouse is able to alert customers in the event of a safety recall.

And that's exactly what happened when a snack item was recently recalled, according to an alert Costco sent to individuals who purchased the item at warehouses in Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also posted a notice revealing that certain dried plum products from SnakYard may be contaminated with lead.

The snacks were distributed or sold in California, Nevada, and Utah. In turn, they were sent to retail stores and supermarkets, including Costco. The impacted bags of saladitos (salted dried plums) were sold at select warehouses between April 2021 and January 2022 as item #1516905. The alert sent to members warns, "If you still have any of this product, please stop using the item and return it to your local Costco for a full refund."

Dried Plums recall Costco — Courtesy of Alli & Rose

Also included in the recall are 1.5-ounce bags of saladitos and saladitos con chile y limon (dried plums with chili and lemon) under the Tolteca brand label, which were not sold at Costco. They have a UPC code of either 704927600694 or 704927600700, according to the FDA.

No illnesses related to lead have been reported. Symptoms of lead poisoning include abdominal pain, behavior or mood changes, irritability, lethargy, vomiting, weakness, seizures, and more. Per the Mayo Clinic:

"Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over months or years. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems. Children younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal."

If this snack is in your kitchen, you can return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. This isn't the only recall you need to know about, however—These Frozen Grocery Items Are Being Pulled From Shelves in 12 States.