A warning on a pack of risotto
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (52142)
Staten Island, New York
August 21, 2022 10:41pm CST
Went to the supermarket today as we had a pretty empty fridge and pantry. Decided to get a pack of risotto with porcini mushrooms.
I thought I'd make it for dinner tonight and asked hubby how long it cooks for. He took the package and went to look for the cooking time. That's when he noticed a warning:
Consuming this product can expose you to chemicals including lead and lead compounds...
What the heck? How is this possible?
If this is the case, they shouldn't put a warning on the package. They should not sell the product at all, let alone produce it.
I've seen a similar warning on things like china, pots/pans, etc. but never on food.
Hubby went to the supermarket to return the risotto and get a refund but customer service was already closed. Apparently, a cashier that rings up your items cannot process returns. This makes no sense to me whatsoever. He will have to go there tomorrow.
11 people like this
12 responses
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
22 Aug 22
@lovebuglena There is more lead in the soil of the gardens than in the woods, but as the lead is volatile, if the woods are not far from high traffic highway the soil can get contaminated. Airplanes use leaded fuel as an example.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Aug 22
That seems weird to me. Porcini grow in the woods, no? Where would there be lead in the woods?
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Aug 22
@LadyDuck I did not know this.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
26 Aug 22
@porwest Hubby returned the risotto. Customer service person asked why he is returning it and he showed her the label. She was shocked and said she doesn't understand why they are selling this.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Aug 22
Guess there is a first time for everything. The store better take the risotto back and give hubby back the money. I wonder if hubby is gonna tell them about that warning. They will probably still sell the product though.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
23 Aug 22
@lovebuglena It just seems odd to me that lead would even be a part of it. How, I wonder? In food? And when did lead become acceptable in any kind of food item? Just seems so weird. lol
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
22 Aug 22
Warnings about allergens are one thing but I don't think that risotto would be legal here in the UK. There are certain things you can have in food as long as it's clearly labelled as such but I don't think lead is one of them.
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Aug 22
I don't get how in the world eating the risotto can expose me to lead. Where does the lead come from?
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
22 Aug 22
@lovebuglena good question. Perhaps it's packed in a factory where they also make stuff out of lead or maybe the building they're packed in is made of lead and is crumbling... 
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Aug 22
@pumpkinjam I doubt the rice itself has lead in it.
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@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
22 Aug 22
Hmm that is terrible..no they should not sell it..I better start reading pkgs more
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
22 Aug 22
@lovebuglena Wow I am floored that they would sell this. Thanks for the heads up Lena.
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Aug 22
Yep. Also a good idea to thoroughly read the ingredients list and if there are lots of things on there we can't pronounce or identify we shouldn't purchase or consume those products.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Aug 22
@RebeccasFarm A lot of things we get have natural flavors/flavorings. Makes me wonder what's actually in that.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (127116)
• United States
22 Aug 22
I wouldn't worry about it. It is just one of those warnings that they probably have to put on there due to a lawsuit or specific state law. Unless you are eating only that rice all day and every day it isn't going to make a difference.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Aug 22
In the warning it states that these chemicals are known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects. Wonder how come it's just CA and no other states.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Aug 22
Oh, that is not good. So, even if something is spoiled or can't be consumed you can't get your money back?
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@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
31 Aug 22
@lovebuglena In a case to case basis. It is.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Aug 22
I've never seen such a thing on food products either.
@jstory07 (148701)
• Roseburg, Oregon
22 Aug 22
A warning like that on food is just gross. i would not eat the item either.
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Aug 22
It's interesting though that the warning mentions that these chemicals are known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects... Why specifically California I wonder?
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Aug 22
I doubt eating one pack of it would do any harm but better safe than sorry. Besides, hubby doesn't want to eat it so I won't either.
@JESSY3236 (22199)
• United States
23 Aug 22
I haven't seen this warning either. Maybe it's a new warning. I wouldn't eat it either.
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
26 Aug 22
Perhaps so, though I've seen a similar thing on things for the kitchen like big ceramic bowls, cups, even some pots and pans I think.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Aug 22
Wow, that's pretty scary. I haven't noticed that here.
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Aug 22
I would not expect such a warning on risotto, or any food for that matter.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
22 Aug 22
You'd probably have to eat a lot of that rice for it to be harmful; but if you don't feel comfortable eating it then it's good that you tried to return it.
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Aug 22
Hubby doesn't want to eat it. I am fine with that. I think we actually had this before though but I don't remember if that warning was there last time. It was a while ago when we had it.
1 person likes this
