Warning issued over traditional morning sickness remedy

Tuesday 15 October 2002

The Food Standards Agency is today (15 October 2002) advising people not to eat a product commonly known as Calabash chalk, because samples tested have revealed high levels of lead. The Agency is also taking immediate action to remove the product from sale.

Calabash chalk, sometimes also known as La Craie, Argile, Nzu, Mabele or Calabar Stone, is not a conventional food.

But it is eaten by some pregnant women, traditionally those from the Nigerian and wider West African community, as a remedy for morning sickness.

Exposure to high levels of lead by pregnant and breastfeeding women poses a risk to the mental development of their unborn baby and breastfed infant.

The Food Standards Agency's Dr Diane Benford said: 'We are strongly advising that people stop eating calabash chalk, particularly pregnant women and breast feeding mums, who appear to be its main consumers.

'They are particularly relevant, because the risks from exposure to lead are greatest for the unborn and developing child.

'Calabash chalk may not be a conventional food, but we do know that it is eaten by some pregnant women from Nigerian and West African communities as a traditional remedy for morning sickness.'

The FSA was made aware of the problem by the London Borough of Greenwich after results of local sampling indicated high levels of lead.

As a precaution, the Agency took five further samples from ethnic shops and markets in London.

The levels found in these samples were found to exceed 4.5-fold World Health Organization safety guidelines for exposure to lead from food, the environment and other factors.

The chalk can be bought in ethnic shops and markets in the form of blocks, pellets and powders. There are no particular brands, batches or best before dates.

A Food Hazard Warning has been issued by the Agency asking Environmental Health officers to check whether they can find the chalk in their area, and if so remove it from sale.

The Agency also intends to raise with the European Commission the possibility of proposing EU-wide measures to prohibit the sale of Calabash chalk.

Anyone who has been eating calabash chalk and is concerned about their health or would like advice on other remedies for morning sickness should contact their GP or health visitor.