Popular Dried Tangerine Peel Snack Found To Contain Toxic High Lead Content

The snack, which is known as "Jiabao jiuzhi chenpi" in Chinese, is sold in various countries including Malaysia, Singapore, China, and some parts of the United States.

According to South China Morning Post, the manufacturer claimed that there is a low possibility that any of the product marketed abroad is contaminated.

The company said that two problem batches - totalling a dozen boxes of small packets containing 24 grams of peel each - were made in December and January using orange peels from a one-off supplier.

Authorities said that the inspections were conducted twice - in March and May this year, according to the report.

In March, inspections discovered seven times the amount of accepted lead, while the May inspection revealed six times the standard amount allowed.

South China Morning Post reported that a company statement was released last week notifying the retailers of the issue. They revealed that all of the problematic products were recalled and incinerated in May.

However, according to authorities, the first test showed 8mg/kg, while the second test had 6.69mg/kg of lead.

The World Health Organisation states that consuming high amounts of lead can affect the brain and central nervous system causing coma, convulsions, and even death.

It was also reported that children who survive severe lead poisoning may be left with mental retardation and behavioural disorders.