Are gerber baby food safe
Does Baby Food Contain Heavy Metals? Experts Weigh In on Toxic Baby Food Report
- A recently released congressional report that found heavy metals in popular baby foods is causing concern for parents nationwide.
- Major infant food manufacturers like Gerber and Beech-Nut are among the brands that "permit dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals" in their food, according to the report.
- However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that "low levels of heavy metals found in baby foods likely are a relatively small part of a child's overall heavy metal exposure risk."
- Doctors advise not overreacting to the new report, but instead taking sober, science-backed actions to limit heavy metals and arsenic in your baby's diet.
On February 4, a new congressional report came out claiming that a number of top baby food brands are "tainted with dangerous levels of inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury. "
Garnering widespread media attention, the report detailed that a subcommittee of congressional investigators requested internal documents and test results analyzing levels of heavy metals found in products from seven of the country's biggest infant food manufacturers, including Nurture (HappyBABY), Beech-Nut, Hain (Earth's Best Organic) and Gerber. The subcommittee also noted they are "greatly concerned" that Walmart, Sprout Foods and Campbell Soup Company (Plum Organics) did not provide reports or samples for review, despite requests.
In the report, congressional investigators claimed that the research showed these top baby food brands have "internal company standards [that] permit dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals, and documents revealed that the manufacturers have often sold foods that exceeded those levels."
In response to the report, almost all of the brands cited have refuted it in some form or another.
Hain released a statement saying, "We are disappointed that the subcommittee report examined outdated data and does not reflect our current practices," also noting the brand met with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year to discuss how to better refine their standards and practices; Gerber noted they "meet or exceed all existing government requirements," and have "established our own high standards based on the latest food safety guidance." As for Campbell Soup Company, the brand said in a statement that they responded quickly to the subcommittee’s questions and "never refused anything requested of us," while Walmart says they did submit information to the subcommittee but never received any subsequent inquiries, according to Reuters.
Of course, the report's findings sound alarming to the millions of parents who feed these products to their children. (In 2019 alone, the national baby food market stood at over $6 billion and is projected to grow to $6.
7 billion by 2025.) As a concerned mom or dad, what is the next best step for you and your baby? Is homemade baby food the only way to go?
Here's everything you need to know about heavy metals in baby food and how to minimize your child's exposure:
First, what exactly are "heavy metals"?
Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that are found throughout the earth's crust. Air, soil and water all contain these metals; they are in the ground we walk on and in the water we drink. Five specific elements — arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury — have high degrees of toxicity and rank among the priority metals that are of great public health concern. At high levels, they can be harmful and toxic to the human body. "Heavy metal exposure in infants has the potential to damage the developing brain leading to neuro-developmental effects including lower IQ, cognitive impairments and behavior problems," says Robert Coles, MD, Pediatrician at UC San Diego Health.
But some heavy metals, like iron and zinc, are essential for our bodies to function. Metals such as copper, iron, magnesium, selenium and zinc are considered essential nutrients; inadequate intake of these micronutrients can result in deficiency complications and lead to disease. "Zinc is an essential mineral involved in immune function, growth, development, wound healing and cell production. Zinc deficiency can lead to stunted growth in children and adolescents," says Megan Meyer, PhD, Director of Science Communications at the International Food Information Council. She also points out that iron plays an important role in moving oxygen around in the body, a reason why iron is intentionally added to foods like breakfast cereals and infant formulas for enhanced nutrition.
So, how do toxic heavy metals get into baby food?
The recent congressional report may have parents assuming that heavy metals are being added to store-bought baby food brands in toxic amounts, but that's not necessarily the case.
When it comes to food production, levels of heavy metals can vary based on several factors, including growing conditions and agricultural processes. "Heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury occur naturally in soil, water and air," Dr. Meyer says. "They enter the food supply when plants grow. They are naturally occurring, and are not added to food."
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Although these elements are naturally present in the soil and therefore the food we eat, the report points out that the FDA currently has no set levels for the maximum amount of toxic heavy metals permitted in baby food. While the FDA has issued guidance to finalize the 2016 draft guidance for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereals, regulations and testing around heavy metals in baby food has yet to be fully established. "I look forward to FDA's careful regulation of these toxic heavy metals in baby foods, followed by strict compliance requirements and mandatory consumer labels," read a statement from Subcommittee Chairman Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Dr. Coles says that recommendations in the congressional report are an excellent place to start, including mandatory testing for heavy metals by baby food manufacturers and establishing FDA standards for maximum levels of toxic heavy metals permitted in baby foods.
Should I be worried about heavy metals in baby food?
While the new congressional report does illuminate valid concerns about heavy metals in our food supply, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that the "low levels of heavy metals found in baby foods likely are a relatively small part of a child's overall heavy metal exposure risk."
"Concerned parents should not panic or overreact to the report," Dr. Coles says. "This issue has been discussed in the past. If parents are providing a varied diet for their children and following the recommendations of the AAP, the risks are low and there is no need to be overly concerned.
"
Dr. Coles points out that there are many other environmental sources of toxic heavy metals that parents should be more concerned about. For example, the CDC states that the primary sources of lead, a common heavy metal, are homes built before 1978, which are more likely to contain lead paint, and certain water pipes, toys, jewelry and imported candies, which all have the potential to pose a greater risk.
"In order to reduce the risk that children will be exposed to heavy metals from any and all sources, the AAP recommends that parents address lead hazards in the home, check water for heavy metals, avoid smoking or vaping which may expose children to cadmium and lead, breastfeed if possible, make healthy fish choices as some can be high in methylmercury, serve a variety of foods, and switch up grains — particularly avoiding rice," says Dr. Coles.
As a new mom, Dr. Meyer adds that the issue strikes close to home for her.
"I think what’s most important for people to realize is that baby food is not a significant source of heavy metal exposure," she says. "Instead, I hope that parents will prioritize feeding their children a diverse diet that includes a variety of fruits and veggies, whole grains, healthy fats and protein."
Is organic or homemade baby food a better bet than conventional?
Parents might assume that purchasing organic baby food might avoid the issue altogether, but Dr. Meyer says that this may not be the case. "According to the AAP, since heavy metals are found in the soil, both organic and conventional baby food contain similar levels of heavy metals," she explains.
As for making baby food at home, the AAP states that this can provide a bit more control since you're choosing the ingredients and might also be avoiding potential contaminants from processing or packaging. But again, since produce comes from the earth, trace levels of heavy metals may still be present.
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How to limit heavy metals in your baby's diet
The AAP shares that the most important thing for parents to do is to offer a variety of foods to your baby, since completely avoiding heavy metals in any food is nearly impossible since they are naturally present in the earth. But there are a few evidence-based actions you can take to limit heavy metals in your baby's diet:
- Vary the types of foods being offered. The best — and most practical — piece of advice for parents is to vary the types of food being offered to your baby, in order to provide a variety of nutrients and decrease the amount of arsenic in your child's diet.
- Limit fruit juices. The AAP has long recommended limiting intake of all sweet beverages, including juice, to reduce the risk of obesity and dental carries in children. Not only does fruit juice have a high sugar content and no fiber, but a 2019 report found levels of arsenic and lead in many popular fruit juice brands.
Grape juice and juice blends had the highest average heavy metal levels as per this report. Limit fruit juices to no more than 4 oz per day and avoid them until at least 1 year of age. Instead, try breastmilk or infant formula for babies, and water or milk for older children. - Limit rice and rice-based products. Arsenic, one of the heavy metals of concern, is naturally present in rice. Several baby food items and snacks, like rice cereal, puffs and many teething crackers, contain rice as the leading ingredient. Try to limit or avoid these rice-based products in your baby's diet, and offer infant cereals like oat, barley or multigrain options instead.
- Try parboiling rice. That said, rice is an important culinary component of many cultures. If it's a staple in your home, a cooking technique known as parboiling with absorption (PBA) method may remove a significant portion of arsenic from both brown and white rice. This method essentially involves pre-boiling the rice before draining and refreshing the water.
- Include a variety of grains in your baby's diet. Buckwheat, millet, amaranth, farro, barley, quinoa, oats and bulgar are great options to incorporate into your baby's diet and eating routine.
Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.S.O., C.D.N., NASM-CPT
Nutrition Lab Director
Stefani (she/her) is a registered dietitian, a NASM-certified personal trainer and the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab, where she handles all nutrition-related content, testing and evaluation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from NYU. She is also Good Housekeeping’s on-staff fitness and exercise expert. Stefani is dedicated to providing readers with evidence-based content to encourage informed food choices and healthy living. She is an avid CrossFitter and a passionate home cook who loves spending time with her big fit Greek family.
Gerber Baby Food Lawsuits — Lawsuit Information Center
Current research and testing have shown that Gerber and other major brands of baby food contain dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and mercury. These harmful metals are well known to cause health complications and neurologic damage in developing children. The development of conditions such as ADHD and autism may be linked to the consumption of these toxic baby foods.
The product liability lawyers at Miller & Zois are currently seeking cases from children (and their parents) who consumed contaminated Gerber baby foods and were later diagnosed with neurologic health conditions such as autism.
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Gerber Baby Food Found to Contain High Levels of Toxic Metals
Heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium are well known to be toxic to the human body.
Many of them, such as lead and mercury, have been specifically linked to neurological problems in young children with developing brains. This is why keeping these metals away from children has been a major public health priority for many years. Unfortunately, recent research has shown that we may have actually been feeding these toxic metals to our children for years.
In 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy released a Staff Report entitled Baby Foods Are Tainted with Dangerous Levels of Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury (the “Staff Report”). The Staff Report detailed the Subcommittee’s findings from an investigation into claims that major baby foods like Gerber were being sold with high levels of toxic heavy metals. The Subcommittee investigation was based on lab test results and internal documents from baby food manufacturers.
The results of the investigation fully confirmed that Gerber and other commercial baby foods “are tainted with significant levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury.
” The Staff Report also noted that exposure to these contaminants is harmful to infant neurological development and brain function.
The Staff Report found unsafe levels of heavy metals in baby food products from 7 of the largest manufacturers in the U.S., including Gerber, which is the biggest baby food manufacturer in the world. The Staff Report details the levels of toxins found in the various food brands based on testing. The levels of toxic metals in Gerber were much lower compared to other major brands, but they were still well above the maximum safe levels set by the FDA.
(a) Arsenic Levels in Gerber Baby FoodOf all the toxin heavy metals covered by the Staff Report, arsenic is considered the most hazardous. In young children, exposure to arsenic is known to cause not only neurologic problems, but it can also damage the central nervous system.
Both the FDA and the EPA have set maximum safe arsenic levels for bottled water at 10 ppb.
The Staff Report found that Gerber baby food products used ingredients that contained over 90 ppb inorganic arsenic based on lab testing. This is 9 times the FDA maximum safe level.
Lead is considered the second most toxic of the heavy metals that are known to post a threat to human health. Lead exposure (even at small levels) is associated with a range of bad health outcomes, particularly neurologic and cognitive developmental issues in children.
The FDA’s maximum safe level for lead is 5 ppb in drinking water, 20 ppb in juice and 100 ppb in candy products. According to the Staff Report, Geber used ingredients in its baby food that tested as high as 48 ppb for lead.
(c) Mercury Levels in Gerber Baby FoodMercury ranks 3rd behind arsenic and lead in terms of the most harmful of the heavy metals featured in the Staff Report on baby foods. Studies have shown that pre-natal exposure to mercury can lead to adverse neurologic development.
More specifically, high blood levels of mercury in toddlers have been positively associated with “autistic behaviors.”
Mercury can be harmful even at extremely low levels. The FDA has capped the maximum safe level of mercury in drinking water at 2 ppb. The Staff Report does not contain information on the levels of mercury in Geber baby foods because the Subcommittee relied on information provided by Gerber. Gerber advised the committee that is does not test for mercury in its products.
(d) Cadmium Levels in Gerber Baby FoodCadmium ranks fourth on the list of hazardous toxic metals in baby foods. Cadmium exposure in children has been linked to lower IQ and the development of ADHD. The FDA has set the maximum safe limit for cadmium in drinking water at 5 ppb. The Staff Report found that Gerber baby food products containing carrots were contaminated with cadmium. Over 75% of Gerber’s carrot foods contained over 5 ppb cadmium and some contained up to 87 ppb.
The toxic health effects of heavy metals are well recognized, but a growing body of scientific research is beginning to specifically connect exposure to these materials to autism, ADD, and other neurologic disorders. A number of medical studies have identified a connection between regular exposure to heavy metals during gestation, infancy, and childhood and higher rates of autism.
A study published in 2014 looked at the impact of prenatal and early infancy exposures to mercury. The study concluded that mercury exposure resulted in a twofold increase in the risk of developing both autism or ADD. Three years later, a similar study on children in Korea found a similar association between mercury exposure and autism/ADD rates.
A possible connection between arsenic exposure and higher autism rates was identified in a meta-analysis study conducted by a research team at the University of Buffalo and published in 2019.
A more extensive study was published the following year which found the same positive association between autism and exposure to mercury, arsenic, and cadmium during infancy.
The Staff Report regarding heavy metals in baby foods like Gerber has led to a number of product liability lawsuits against Gerber by parents claiming that their children developed autism (or other disorders). These lawsuits are partly based on the findings in the Staff Report which clearly show that Gerber was aware of the fact that its baby food products contained heavy metals well above the maximum safe limits set by the FDA.
Since the Staff Report was published in February 2021, Gerber Products Company has been named as a defendant in a number of consumer class action and product liability lawsuits involving toxic metals in baby food products. Our firm is currently seeking Gerber toxic baby food lawsuits. Call today for a free consultation 800-553-8082.
Children's vegetable puree: edible or inedible?
/ All materials
GOST not Decree
The tasting of vegetable puree was conducted by specialists who have devoted many years to the development of baby food. Their opinion can be trusted. But we want to warn you: it is impossible to guarantee that the child will like the same puree as the experts (rather, you should rely on your own taste). Much more important is compliance with safety requirements. And most of the samples we tested meet the standards. Most, but not all.
Let's deal with the quality
Andrey Mosov, head of the expert department of NP Roskontrol, doctor:
“Such characteristics as sweetness, bitterness or “unexpressed taste” are subjective. Parents most often pay attention to the water content of the product. The presence of water in the composition of vegetable puree is not bad for the first feeding. You just need to understand that water is a cheaper raw material than a pumpkin.
”
Irina Konokhova, leading expert of NP Roskontrol, doctor:
“Indeed, in most of the tested vegetable purees, the mass fraction of chlorides (i.e. salt) is 0.2%, and in the Babushkino Lukoshko, Heinz and Semper purees it is 0.3%. Perhaps this is due to the higher natural content of sodium chloride in the feedstock, although it cannot be ruled out that salt was added. However, this intake of salt with complementary foods is acceptable, given the physiological need for sodium in children. The permissible mass fraction of chlorides in children's vegetable puree is 0.6%, and this figure is not exceeded in the tested samples.
How about sterility?
Let's start with the main thing: all samples meet the requirements of industrial sterility. Pesticides were not found in any of the samples, and all samples meet the standards in terms of nitrate content.
In addition, the puree was checked for 5-hydroxymethyl furfural content .
It was not found in any of the samples.
All preservatives and sweeteners are prohibited in baby food. We checked the puree for the presence of sorbate, benzoate, sulfur dioxide (these are preservatives) and determined the mass concentration of sweeteners. Parents can be calm: no preservatives or sweeteners were found in the samples.
One in the jar, another on the label
Andrey Mosov, head of the expert department of NP Roskontrol, doctor:
in pumpkin puree should be 3.6% (in boiled pumpkin - 4.6%).
Summing up and drawing conclusions
Roskontrol experts noted that the manufacturer of puree Semper misleads the consumer about the presence of sugar in the composition. A mark "Bebivita" does not correspond to the actual product name - it is indicated in small print on the back of the label ("Complementary food product - mashed pumpkin and potatoes").
Puree “Spelyonok” has the inscription “fortified with vitamin C” illegally placed: the actual mass fraction of ascorbic acid in this sample is four times less than indicated in the label.
Plus, on all samples, except for Bebivita puree, information about the nutritional value in terms of carbohydrate content is distorted.
Test details
August 27, 2014
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Beech-Nut and Gerber found heavy metals in baby food
The fact that some types of fish, such as bigeye tuna, king mackerel or swordfish, contain mercury and therefore are undesirable in the menu of children and pregnant women, probably everyone knows. As well as arsenic in certain grains, most notably rice. And what about baby food based on them? Is it really that safe?
Today, US baby food sales are about $53 billion, and by 2021, according to Zion Market Research, they will exceed $76 billion. And because children are more receptive to food than adults, Consumer Reports (CR) decided to check for the content heavy metals namely the range of baby food.
In the spring of 2018, CR experts tested 50 popular baby products: cereals, canned fruits and vegetables, packaged meals (such as turkey and rice dinner), packaged snacks (cookies, crackers, chips, waffles, rice crackers, etc.), by purchasing 3 samples of each product from retailers across the country.
B o Most of the products were from the 2 largest US baby food manufacturers, Beech-Nut and Gerber. Also purchased were Baby Mum-Mum, Earth's Best, Ella's Kitchen, Happy Baby, Parent's Choice (Walmart), Plum Organics and Sprout.
Testing has shown that some of the most popular baby products on the US market are best avoided:
- Experts found "alarming" levels of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury and/or inorganic arsenic) in 68% of samples.
- 15 out of 50 products tested were generally dangerous to the health of a child consuming 1 serving per day or less.
- Foods based on rice and/or sweet potato contained the highest amount of heavy metals.
Of the 50 products, only 16 contained heavy metals that did not exceed the safe limit.
The test results table is shown below.
Consumer Reports test data for each product:
| P/N | Product name | Serving size | Test score | Daily limit |
Meals and Entrées | ||||
| 1. | Gerber Lil' Entrées Chicken & Brown Rice With Peas & Corn | 1 tray | + | Unlimited |
| 2. | Earth's Best Organic Chicken & Brown Rice | 1 can, 4 oz (113 g) | – | < 1 serving |
| 3. | Earth's Best Turkey, Red Beans & Brown Rice | 1 doypack | – | < 1 serving |
4. | Gerber Chicken & Rice | 1 can, 4 oz (113 g) | – | < 1 serving |
| 5. | Gerber Turkey & Rice | 1 can, 4 oz (113 g) | – | < 1 serving |
| 6. | Sprout Organic Baby Food Garden Vegetables Brown Rice With Turkey | 1 doypack | – | < 1 serving |
| 7. | Gerber Lil' Meals White Turkey Stew With Rice & Vegetables* | 1 tray | – | < 0.5 servings |
Fruits and vegetables | ||||
| 8. | Beech-Nut Classics Apple, Pear & Banana | 1 can, 4 oz (113 g) | + | Unlimited |
| 9. | Beech-Nut Naturals Carrot, Broccoli, Apple & Strawberry* | 1 can, 4 oz (113 g) | + | Unlimited |
10. | Beech-Nut Organic Just Apple & Green Beans | 1 can, 4 oz (113 g) | + | Unlimited |
| 11. | Beech-Nut Organic Peas, Green Beans, and Avocado | 1 doypack | + | Unlimited |
| 12. | Gerber Grabbers Strong Veggies, Broccoli, Carrot, Banana, Pineapple | 1 doypack | + | Unlimited |
| 13. | Gerber Organic Peas, Carrots & Beets* | 1 doypack | + | Unlimited |
| 14. | Happy Baby Organics Purple Carrots, Bananas, Avocados & Quinoa | 1 doypack | + | Unlimited |
| 15. | Gerber Carrot, Pear & Blackberry | 1 container, 4 oz (113 g) | - | < 1 serving |
16. | Gerber Carrots Peas & Corn With Lil' Bits* | 1 container, 5 oz (140 g) | – | < 1 serving |
| 17. | Plum Organics Just Sweet Potato Organic Baby Food | 1 doypack | – | < 1 serving |
| 18. | Beech-Nut Classics Sweet Potatoes | 1 can, 4 oz (113 g) | – | < 0.5 servings |
| 19. | Earth's Best Organic Sweet Potatoes, 1st Stage | 1 can, 2.5 (70 g) | – | < 0.5 servings |
Flakes | ||||
| 20. | Gerber Breakfast Buddies Hot Cereal With Real Fruit, Apple Cinnamon*
| 1 bowl | + | Unlimited |
| 21. | Beech-Nut Complete Rice Single Grain Baby Cereal
| 0. | – | < 3 servings |
| 22. | Happy Baby Organics Organic Probiotic Baby Cereal | 4 tbsp. l. | – | < 3 servings |
| 23. | Beech-Nut Complete Oatmeal Whole Grain Baby Cereal | 0.5 cups | – | < 2.5 servings |
| 24. | Beech-Nut Organic Oatmeal Whole Grain Baby Cereal | 0.5 cups | – | < 2.5 servings |
| 25. | Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Oatmeal Cereal | 4 tbsp | – | < 2.5 servings |
| 26. | Gerber Oatmeal Single Grain Cereal | 0.5 cups | – | < 2.5 servings |
| 27. | Gerber Organic Oatmeal Cereal | 0.5 cups | – | < 2. |
| 28. | Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Rice Cereal | 4 tbsp. l. | – | < 1 serving |
Snacks | ||||
| 29. | Beech-Nut Quinoa Crispies, Vanilla | 1 block | + | Unlimited |
| 30. | Ella's Kitchen Apples + Strawberries Nibbly Fingers | 0.33 bars | + | Unlimited |
| 31. | Gerber Graduates Puffs Cereal Snack Strawberry Apple | 0.5 cups | + | Unlimited |
| 32. | Gerber Lil' Beanies Baked Snack Made With Beans, White Cheddar & Broccoli* | 26 pcs. | + | Unlimited |
| 33. | Gerber Lil' Crunchies Baked Corn Snack Mild Cheddar | 16 pcs. | + | Unlimited |
| 34. | Gerber Lil' Crunchies Baked Corn Snack Vanilla Maple | 16 pcs. | + | Unlimited |
| 35. | Gerber Organic Puffs, Puffed Grain Snack, Apple | 0.5 cups | + | Unlimited |
| 36. | Gerber Graduates Arrowroot Cookies | 1 cookie | – | < 6 servings |
| 37. | Plum Organics Little Yums Organic Teething Wafers, Pumpkin & Banana* | 1 wafer | – | < 5.5 servings |
| 38. | Gerber Graduates Cinnamon Graham Animal Crackers | 2 crackers | – | < 4.5 servings |
| 39. | Gerber Graduates Banana Cookies | 1 cookie | – | < 4 servings |
40. | Baby Mum-Mum Banana Rice Rusks | 4 crackers | – | < 3 servings |
| 41. | Baby Mum-Mum Vegetable Rice Rusks | 4 crackers | – | < 3 servings |
| 42. | Gerber Graduates Waffle Wheels Puffed Grain Snack, Banana Cream | 4 pcs. | – | < 3 servings |
| 43. | Gerber Graduates Lil' Biscuits Vanilla Wheat | 1 biscuit | – | < 2.5 servings |
| 44. | Gerber Graduates Cereal Bars, Strawberry Banana | 1 block | – | < 1.5 servings |
| 45. | Parent's Choice (Walmart) Little Puffs Cereal Snack, Strawberry Apple | 0.5 cups | – | < 1.5 servings |
| 46. | Plum Organics Mighty Sticks Whole Grain Snacks, Berry Beet* | 1 pack | – | < 1.5 servings |
| 47. | Sprout Organic Quinoa Puffs Baby Cereal Snack, Apple Kale | 0.33 cups | – | < 1.5 servings |
| 48. | Earth's Best Organic Sunny Days Snack Bars, Strawberry | 1 block | – | < 1 serving |
| 49. | Happy Baby Organics Superfood Puffs, Apple & Broccoli | 0.5 cups | – | < 1 serving |
| 50. | Happy Baby Organics Superfood Puffs, Purple Carrot & Blueberry | 0.5 cups | – | < 1 serving |
5 cups 
5 servings 
(+) - good results
(–) - poor results, alarming
* The manufacturer informed CR that the product has been discontinued but can still be found in physical or online stores.
Organic doesn't mean safe
Many parents will be surprised to find products labeled "organics" in a poor results table. Yes, USDA certified organic products are better than conventional products in many ways (environmental impact, pesticide levels, etc.). However, 20 out of 50 samples tested with this label still contained heavy metals.
Charlotte Wallai, food label expert at Consumer Reports, explained that organically banned arsenic and lead have been used in pesticides in the past and remain in soil today. Therefore, even raw materials grown according to strict modern standards cannot be completely free from these substances.
How heavy metals get into food
All of them are part of the earth's crust and therefore naturally occur in the environment. However b o Most of the heavy metals in food come from soil or water contaminated during agricultural or industrial production, in particular through the use of pesticides, as well as during the extraction and processing of minerals.
Plants absorb heavy metals from the ground and water, as well as nutrients. However, the "suction" capacity of some crops is much higher than others. Thus, rice absorbs about 10 times more arsenic than other grains.
How heavy metals affect the body
Iron and zinc are also heavy metals, but in reasonable amounts they only benefit the human body. But cadmium, inorganic arsenic, lead and mercury (especially methylmercury) are toxic in any concentration and pose a particular danger to young children. The longer you consume foods containing them, the more harm will be done to the body. Among the most serious problems are impaired cognitive development and, as a result, a decrease in IQ, behavioral problems (hyperactivity, attention deficit, autism), reproductive problems, the development of bladder, lung and skin cancer.
Steps parents can take now
According to James Dickerson, Chief Scientist at Consumer Reports, a child's consumption of foods containing heavy metals may not cause health problems right away, but it increases the risk of developing them in the future.
To protect both children and yourself from the accumulation of heavy metals in the body, Dr. Dickerson advises to adhere to the following rules:
1. Eat less rice and products from it. Cereals are often a baby's first solid food because they are easy to swallow. However, both the Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend giving babies different types of cereals that do not contain large amounts of inorganic arsenic, such as oat and barley-based products.
2. Choose the right rice and cook it right. Brown rice has been shown to contain more inorganic arsenic than white rice. Prefer Basmati from California, India and Pakistan. You need to cook it in a large amount of water - from 6 to 10 parts of water to 1 part of rice. When the rice is ready, drain off the excess water.
3. Limit your consumption of packaged snacks. Many of them contain rice flour and generally do not represent any nutritional value for a growing organism.
4. Don't go overboard with chocolate: cocoa powder may contain cadmium and/or lead.
What is being done at the legislative level
Today, the baby food market is not properly regulated by the state, according to Consumer Reports. Many parents are unaware of the presence of heavy metals in the foods they buy for their children because they believe that baby food is produced to stricter standards than other packaged foods.
However, this is not the case. Although the FDA recognizes that heavy metals pose a danger to children's bodies, there are still no regulations governing food safety for children.
In 2016, the FDA proposed limiting the allowable content of inorganic arsenic in rice used in children's products to 100 ppb (parts per billion), and in 2013, to limit it in apple juice to 10 ppb (the federal standard for the concentration of arsenic in children's products). drinking water). However, no limit has yet been set.
Based on the results of the Consumer Reports study, the Food and Drug Administration has promised to issue recommendations to manufacturers by the end of 2018: “The agency has made this a priority and is working to reduce the health risks posed by these elements metals - USA .
