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Another Metal-Tainted Lollipop Found In Lakeland; No Foul Play Suspected

Photo courtesy of Polk County Sheriff's Office

This photo shows what appears to be a blade protruding from a sealed lollipop reportedly bought at a Dollar General store in Polk County. Sheriff's deputies and store officials are investigating the incident.

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By BILLY TOWNSEND | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2008

Updated: 02/14/2008 06:46 pm

LAKELAND - Out of 20 more lollipops seized by authorities today, only one appears to have a piece of metal embedded in it, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.

The fragment looks like a staple, Judd said at a 5:30 p.m. press conference. The remaining lollipops have discoloration and dark-colored dots, but "no metal at all."

The Polk County Sheriff's Office seized the Pokemon brand lollipops from Kathleen Elementary School this afternoon, according to a news release. The candy was purchased at a Dollar General Store in Polk County.

Eight bags of the suspect candy were X-rayed at the Polk County Medical Examiner's Office this morning. Investigators found no foreign objects or evidence of tampering, said Polk County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Carrie Rodgers.

The candy was X-rayed because a Mulberry woman found metal embedded in a lollipop purchased at a Dollar General Store at 6735 S. Florida Ave., according to the sheriff's office.

Judd says parents who have purchased the Pokemon lollipops should not allow their children to eat them. He also says parents should scrutinize all candy purchased for Valentine's Day.

Lisa Potter bought a bag of 10 Pokemon Valentine Cards and Pops on Feb. 7. While her son was sorting through them Wednesday night in preparation for taking them to school, he noticed a piece of metal resembling a blade protruding from the corner of the pop. Potter took the candy to the Mulberry Police Department, which called the sheriff's office.

The manager at Dollar General Store pulled the eight remaining bags of that brand of candy off the shelf.

Judd said his detectives worked through the night both to warn schools and to determine whether the blade is part of a pattern of criminal behavior.

There is no indication of foul play and no report of other tainted candy, he said. Judd said the blade seemed to be melted into the candy, as if it had fallen into a mixture at the manufacturing plant. The lollipop remained sealed within a plastic wrapper.

"At best," Judd said, emphasizing several times that the candy had been manufactured in China, "we're dealing with poor quality control."

Reporter Ray Reyes contributed to this report. Reporter Billy Townsend can be reached at btownsend@tampatrib.com.

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