To ensure the quality of the product and provide a safer one, the American Licorice Company has updated its recent recall of Red Vines Black Licorice Twists and expanded it to include all black licorice products manufactured by the company.
The updated recall notice includes Red Vines Black Licorice Twists, Family Mix, Mixed Bites and Snaps products with black licorice.
The latest recall does not include Red Vines Sugar Free Black Licorice and Red Flavor Licorice products.
"Your safety is our primary concern and we've taken this drastic measure out of an abundance of caution to ensure that all American Licorice products are safe for anyone to consume," a statement appeared in the company's website said.
The first recall came last week, when authorities detected high levels of lead in one pound (16 oz) bags of Red Vines Black Licorice Twists with "Best Before Date 020413" written on it.
Health experts from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) found the candy violating the recommended level of lead. The daily limit of lead for children below six years is less than 6.0 micrograms. But the authorities found .33 parts per million (ppm) lead levels in the Black Licorice Twists, making the lead levels to 13.2 micrograms per candy.
The company has taken back all the products included in the recall from the market until it is sure about "the candy out on store shelves meets our quality standards."
According to health experts, consuming the candy can put pregnant women, small children and infants at a higher health risk than others.
Lead poisoning can cause severe health problems in children affecting the function of every system of the body, health experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn. High levels of lead exposure can lead to coma, convulsions and even death. Low levels of lead exposure are associated with low intelligence levels.
Citing the risks associated with high lead exposure in children, in May CDC lowered the lead levels from 10 micrograms per deciliter to 5 micrograms.
