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Kansas City, MO – The Kansas City Health Department is warning people to avoid eating Lucky Country Black Licorice. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that Lucky Country Aussie Style Black Gourmet Licorice contains a high level of lead in it. The company has issued a recall of the candy in 15 states, and is now extending it to Missouri. The black licorice comes in a one and a half pound bag that has a picture of a yellow kangaroo on it. The candy is commonly sold at area Cosco stores. The Health Department recommends that anyone who's been eating the recalled product immediately stop doing so and that any child or pregnant woman receive a blood lead test. The department also warns that lead is a toxin and can cause permanent damage to many parts of the body. Most people don't have visible symptoms of poisoning, but some may experience an upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, weakness in the arms and legs, and memory loss.
Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
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