Lead poisoning associated with imported candy and powdered food coloring--California and Michigan

Although the most common source of pediatric lead poisoning is dust within the home that contains deteriorated lead-based paint from walls and windowsills, other less common sources (1-3) can result in excess exposure among children (i.e., blood lead levels [BLLs] > or =10 microg/dL). This report describes two cases of pediatric lead poisoning associated with eating imported candy and food stuffs and underscores the importance of thorough history-taking to identify unusual sources of lead exposure.