People in the Pittsburgh area who are planning on settling in to watch a movie with popcorn and black licorice may want to rethink their choice of snack. More specifically, they should be aware that black licorice made by Red Vines Black Licorice Twists sold in 1-pound bags has been voluntarily recalled. The recall is due to the licorice in some bags testing positive for lead at high levels.

Many may not be aware of the dangers associated with consuming lead. The extent of these dangers is in part dependent on one's age and in the case of women, whether they are pregnant. Lead poisoning over a long period of time can have a negative impact on the developing organs of children as well as their neurological development. Left unchecked, exposure could result in such problems as learning disabilities.

The samples of the black licorice that were tested reportedly contained an amount of lead that is more than twice the amount each child under the age of six should consume. That is equal to 13.2 micrograms of lead per serving of the licorice. So far, no one has become sick after consuming the treat. Nonetheless, as a precaution, healthcare providers should be contacted if either pregnant women or children ate the candy.

The bags of the black licorice involved in the recall are labeled with a best before date of Feb. 4, 2013. According to a statement that has been posted on the manufacturer's website, anyone who is in possession of the recalled candy should stop eating it and return it to the place it was purchased for a refund.

Source: NBC News, "Red Vines black licorice recalled over high lead levels," JoNel Aleccia, Aug. 22, 2012

• Our firm handles similar situations to the one discussed in this post. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Pittsburgh dangerous products page.