Kailash Adarsh

Did you know that exposure to toxic heavy metals can significantly affect your baby’s brain development? It could lead to a decrease in IQ and possible antisocial behavior in young children. (1)(2)

What’s alarming is that as much as 95% of baby food products from some of the most popular brands in the U.S. contain significant levels of mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium. (3)

In tests commissioned by HBBF (Healthy Babies Bright Futures), toxic heavy metals were found in 95% of the 168 commercial baby foods tested. Many were at dangerous levels, higher than the limits set by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). (3)

Last February 2021, the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy of the U.S. Congress released a detailed Congressional Report on toxic products prepared by seven popular baby food companies. (4)

What were the Subcommittee’s findings, and how did the companies respond? Which products contained high levels of toxic heavy metals?

Gerber Products Company was among the baby food manufacturers listed in the report. Over the years, Gerber had issued some baby food recalls (and also Gerber formula recalls). But did the new report lead to a recall of the affected Gerber baby foods?

In January 2023, in response to public clamor, the FDA announced that they’re proposing limits on lead in baby food. They’re also creating a new food safety unit.

Continue reading to learn more.

The Subcommittee asked the following baby food manufacturers to submit test results of the products that reportedly have high levels of toxic heavy metals: (4)

Of these seven companies, only Gerber, Nurture, Hain, and Beech-Nut submitted their test results and internal standards or testing policies to the Subcommittee. (4)

Walmart, Sprout, and Campbell refused to cooperate, according to the Congressional Report. (4)

However, despite complying with the request, the four companies alarmed the Subcommittee over test results that showed heavy metal levels were several times the FDA’s maximum allowable levels. (4)

FDA maximum limits in ppb or parts per billion for infant rice cereal: (5)

FDA maximum limits in ppb for bottled water:

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) maximum limit in ppb for drinking water (also applies to food):

The Subcommittee was alarmed that the companies didn’t correct the heavy metal levels in their raw materials and finished products. Instead, these baby food companies created internal standards with increased limits. (4)

According to their new reports, these companies’ finished products passed because they have higher limits for their internal standards. Yet, the actual results are still several times higher than the FDA standards.

The state of Alaska independently tested Gerber baby food products and found dangerously high levels of inorganic arsenic in their infant rice cereals.

The second Congressional report on baby food revealed that despite Alaska’s test results Gerber failed to notify the public and also failed to pull those products from the market.

As head of the congressional subcommittee, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi states:

The following are the affected baby food products, based on test results submitted by the companies or third-party organizations: (4)

The company declared to the Subcommittee that it doesn’t test the finished products for heavy metal content. Only the raw materials are tested. (4)

Mercury:

Inorganic Arsenic:

Lead:

Cadmium:

Of all the baby food manufacturers in the Congressional Report, only Nurture regularly tests ingredients and finished products for heavy metals.

Despite the high levels of heavy metals in their finished products, Nurture admitted that the test results aren’t used as a basis for product release. (4)

In response to the investigation, the company wrote to Subcommittee Chairman Raja Krishnamoorthi that heavy metal testing is only done for its internal monitoring program under the company policy. It sold all the tested items, whether they passed or failed. (4)

Mercury:

Inorganic Arsenic:

Lead:

Cadmium:

According to the Congressional Report, Beech-Nut declared that all its raw materials passed internal standards. But the company had set very high internal maximum levels, so the ingredients actually failed government regulations. (4)

Mercury:

Inorganic Arsenic:

Lead:

Cadmium:

According to the Subcommittee report, Hain admitted that it’s only using “theoretical calculations,” not actual test results. (4)

Mercury:

Inorganic Arsenic:

Lead:

Cadmium:

According to the Subcommittee, the company provided them with a report declaring that each of the finished products “meets criteria.”

But the company reportedly refused to provide their actual test results or internal standards and criteria.

The following results are based on data from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report, instead: (3)

Mercury:

Inorganic Arsenic:

Lead:

Cadmium:

Walmart didn’t submit any test results to the Subcommittee. The following results are also from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report, too: (3)

Mercury:

Inorganic Arsenic:

Lead:

Cadmium:

According to the Congressional Report, the company never responded to the Subcommittee. The following results also come from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report: (3)

Mercury:

Inorganic Arsenic:

Lead:

Cadmium:

The following are some healthy alternatives to the unsafe products in the report:

Instead of worrying about food recalls, preparing fresh and organic baby foods at home might be a good idea.

You can buy a baby food maker set such as the Baby Brezza Small Baby Food Maker Set – Cooker and Blender in One or use the appliances you already have in your kitchen in preparing your baby’s food.

Note that rice and rice flour can have high levels of cadmium, lead, and arsenic. It’s best to avoid preparing these foods for your baby.

Healthier alternatives include:

Sweet potatoes and carrots can also have high levels of lead and cadmium. But they are important sources of vitamin A and other nutrients.

You’ll still need to include these foods in your child’s diet, but make sure they aren’t taken in excess. (3)

There are so many possible contaminants and harmful ingredients in our food supply. Some of these are from pesticides.

Because heavy metals and other contaminants could greatly affect babies’ body and brain development, Consumer Reports and the US PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) call for the passing of the Baby Food Safety Act of 2021. (6)

If this passes into law, baby food manufacturers will be required to test and disclose their test results to regulators and parents.

The law will also direct the FDA to adopt and implement stricter limits for baby foods.

Consumer Reports and the AAP (American Academy for Pediatrics) call for further changes: (4)

Healthy Babies Bright Futures also calls for baby food companies to set a goal of zero inorganic arsenic and lead levels in all baby food products.

Despite being included in the Congressional Report, no Gerber baby food recall was issued afterward.

The rest of the baby food manufacturers mentioned in the report didn’t issue a recall as well.

To date, only the following Gerber products have been recalled:

Back in 2017, Gerber Cheese Ravioli Pasta Pick-Ups were recalled, but not because of heavy metals.

Affected Products: (8)

Update: March 10, 2023

A lawsuit filed in Southern California against baby food companies alleges that these foods, tainted with heavy metals based on the Congressional report, can cause autism and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). (9)

Experts help the law team convince the judge by explaining how heavy metals interact with the brain. (9)

Update: February 2, 2023

The FDA proposes the creation of the Human Foods Program, a new food safety unit that will focus on the importance of nutrition. According to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, the new deputy commissioner for human foods will have clear decision-making authority, ensuring the US food supply’s safety. (10)

The new unit will also be tasked to improve US nutrition to address the declining life expectancy, possibly due to chronic diseases linked with poor nutrition. (10)

In response to public outcry, the FDA proposes new lead level limits for baby food, applicable for children under two years old: (11)(12)

Although the FDA estimates that these can reduce young children’s lead exposure by 24-27%, baby food safety advocates like Healthy Babies Bright Futures and Consumer Reports hoped for stricter measures. (11)(12)

They point out lead’s serious impact on children’s health, including reduced IQ, neurological and developmental impairment, behavior problems, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

They also want the FDA to address the other heavy metals detected in baby food, such as cadmium and mercury, which aren’t included in the agency’s new proposal. (11)(12)

References

(1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23570911/

(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4418502/

(3) http://www.healthybabyfood.org/sites/healthybabyfoods.org/files/2019-10/BabyFoodReport_FULLREPORT_ENGLISH_R5b.pdf

(4) https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2021-02-04%20ECP%20Baby%20Food%20Staff%20Report.pdf

(5) https://www.fda.gov/food/metals-and-your-food/arsenic-food-and-dietary-supplements

(6) https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2021/06/09/beech-nut-baby-food-recall-2021-rice-cereal-arsenic/7621243002/

(7) https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/gerber-issues-allergy-alert-clarify-egg-labeling-cheese-ravioli-pasta-pick-upsr

(8) http://news.gerber.com/news/gerber-is-voluntarily-recalling-two-batches-of-gerberR-organic-2nd-foodsR-pouches

(9) https://fox17.com/news/spotlight-on-america/update-first-court-battle-over-toxic-metals-in-baby-food-set-for-trial-in-2023

(10) https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-01-31/after-baby-formula-scandal-fda-announces-new-unit-focused-on-food-safety

(11) https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/24/health/fda-lead-baby-food.html

(12) https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/baby-food/fda-proposes-new-limits-for-lead-in-baby-foods-a2167994237/

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