[jackfoxy]

17 years ago there was a candy or confection sold in Mexico containing lead. I know this because I briefly contracted to a California state agency charged with reducing lead poisoning among children. Apparently lead, like many metals, imparts a kind of sweet taste, which is why there was, and probably still is, a problem with children eating old flaking paint containing lead.

I have not followed this situation since. Does anyone know if this confection is still legal and available in Mexico? This was a lot more dangerous than any junk food.

[liability]

The ancient Romans used lead acetate as an artificial sweetener. It's shocking to consider this practice in the modern era though.

[dylan604]

That's interesting. Of all the years of making fun of the apartment lease addendum pages about lead paint, I had always just written it off to "dumb things people do". I had no idea there was any kind of rewarding behavior at all.

[reaktivo]

You might be referring to tamarind based candy, particularly tamarind sold in clay containers. You can search for it as "tamarindo ollita". This is mostly still available as far as I know.