Hundreds of times more than normal: heavy metals found in popular baby food

Toxic heavy metals have been found in popular baby food, according to a new report from the US Congress. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notifies consumers of potential risks, writes The Washington Post.

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The report found that many products created by the nation's largest commercial baby food makers, Gerber, Beech-Nut, HappyBABY and Earth's Best, contain significant levels of toxic heavy metals. These include arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, which can compromise the neurological development of infants.

In a February 4 report from the House Control Committee's Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, the House of Representatives said heavy metals were found in rice cereals, mashed sweet potatoes, juices and puff sugars.

Producers Gerber, Beech-Nut, HappyBABY (from Nurture) and Earth's Best Organic baby food (from Hain Celestial Group) complied with the committee's request for submission of documents for internal testing.

Companies including Campbell Soup, which sells Plum Organics baby food, Walmart (its private brand Parent's Choice) and Sprout Foods have declined to cooperate, according to subcommittee members.

The committee said the results show a need for stricter regulation of commercial baby food production, including FDA standards for heavy metals, as well as mandatory testing for heavy metals.

“Over the last decade, advocates and scientists have brought this to the attention of the Food and Drug Administration,” said subcommittee Chairman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.). “The FDA must set standards and more closely regulate this industry starting today.” It’s shocking that parents are essentially being completely abandoned to their fate by their government.”

The FDA said it is reviewing the results.

According to the Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, arsenic ranks first among natural substances that pose a significant risk to human health. Although baby food has no maximum levels for arsenic (with the exception of infant rice porridge, which has a maximum of 100 ppb (parts per billion), the FDA has set maximum acceptable levels in bottled water at 10 ppb.

While Hain typically tested only its ingredients and not finished products, documents show that the company used many of the ingredients in its 309 ppb arsenic baby food. Test data shows that Hain used at least 24 ingredients with over 100 ppb.

In response to the release of the report, Hain spokeswoman Robin Shallow said, "Earth's Best is continually supporting efforts to reduce naturally occurring heavy metals in our foods."

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Lead is ranked 2nd in the list of potential health threats, according to the Agency for the Registration of Toxic Substances and Diseases. There is no federal standard for lead in infant formula, but health experts increasingly agree that levels should not exceed 1 ppb. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Environmental Defense Fund and Consumer Reports have all called for levels of 1 ppb or less in food and drink consumed by infants and children.

According to information provided by the committee, Beech-Nut used ingredients containing up to 886,9 ppb of lead. Among the ingredients were: 483 containing more than 5 ppb of lead; 89 containing more than 15 ppb; 57 containing more than 20 ppb of lead.

“Beech-Nut established heavy metal testing standards 35 years ago, and we continually review and strengthen them where possible,” said Jason Jacobs, vice president of food safety, quality and innovation. “We look forward to working with the FDA in partnership with the Children's Nutrition Board on science-based standards that food suppliers can implement in our industry.”

Gerber used carrots containing up to 87 ppb of cadmium, and Nurture sold baby food containing up to 10 ppb mercury. And even when baby food was tested to exceed the limits for these heavy metals, it was still sold. Gerber said they had not seen the report and could not specifically comment on the findings.

“Exposure to these toxic heavy metals affects infants' brain and nervous system development, their behavior, and permanently lowers their IQ,” says Tom Neltner, director of chemicals policy at the Environmental Defense Fund, who has been studying lead in foods for 25 years. nutrition.

The committee began investigating after it learned of high levels of arsenic in certain baby foods in a study by Healthy Babies Bright Futures, an alliance of nonprofit organizations that aims to tangibly reduce infant exposure to toxic chemicals.

The Trump administration has been apprised of the risks that commercial baby food may contain heavy metals, Krishnamurti said. But the bigger problem is that the FDA needs to set legal standards for each of these heavy metals in baby food.

Krishnamurti says Hain's presentation to the FDA showed that naturally occurring toxic heavy metals in soil or water may not be the only problem causing unsafe levels of toxic heavy metals in baby food. Its manufacturers can add vitamin and mineral mixtures to their products that contain high levels of toxic heavy metals.

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The report also cites high levels of lead, arsenic and cadmium found in Happy Family Organics (Nurture) baby food. CEO Anne Laraway said many of the results presented in the 2019 report were compiled from a small subset of their portfolio, "and are generally not representative of our entire range of products on the shelves today."

Randy Hargrove, senior director of national media relations at Walmart, says his company responded to a subcommittee's request last year. In her letter, she stated that any product testing would be done by Walmart suppliers. Sprout Foods did not respond to requests for comment.

“The FDA should intervene in the violation,” says Krishnamurthy. He says this is the committee's third investigation targeting children. Two others researched the safety of car seats and talcum powder.

“We recognize that much work remains to be done,” the FDA said in a statement, “but we reiterate our strong commitment to continue to reduce consumers' exposure to toxic elements and other contaminants in food.”

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