Baby food with lead

FDA proposes new levels for lead in baby food

CNN —

The allowable levels of lead in certain baby and toddler foods should be set at 20 parts per billion or less, according to new draft guidance issued Tuesday by the US Food and Drug Administration.

“For babies and young children who eat the foods covered in today’s draft guidance, the FDA estimates that these action levels could result in as much as a 24-27% reduction in exposure to lead from these foods,” said FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf in a statement.

Homemade baby food contains as many toxic heavy metals as store-bought brands, a new investigation finds. Here's what parents can do.

Karl Tapales/Moment RF/Getty Images

Homemade baby food contains as many toxic metals as store-bought options, report says

Baby foods covered by the new proposal – which is seeking public comment – include processed baby foods sold in boxes, jars, pouches and tubs for babies and young children younger than 2 years old, the agency said.

While any action on the part of the FDA is welcome, the suggested levels of lead are not low enough to move the needle, said Jane Houlihan, the national director of science and health for Healthy Babies Bright Futures, a coalition of advocates committed to reducing babies’ exposures to neurotoxic chemicals.

“Nearly all baby foods on the market already comply with what they have proposed,” said Houlihan, who authored a 2019 report that found dangerous levels of lead and other heavy metals in 95% of manufactured baby food.

That report triggered a 2021 congressional investigation, which found leading baby food manufacturers knowingly sold products with high levels of toxic metals.

“The FDA hasn’t done enough with these proposed lead limits to protect babies and young children from lead’s harmful effects. There is no known safe level of lead exposure, and children are particularly vulnerable,” Houlihan said.

The director of food policy for Consumers Reports, Brian Ronholm, also expressed concerns. In 2018, Consumer Reports analyzed 50 baby foods and found “concerning” levels of lead and other heavy metals. In fact, “15 of them would pose a risk to a child who ate one serving or less per day,” according to Consumer Reports.

“The FDA should be encouraging industry to work harder to reduce hazardous lead and other heavy metals in baby food given how vulnerable young children are to toxic exposure,” Ronholm said in a statement.

Exposure to toxic heavy metals can be harmful to the developing brain of infants and children. “It’s been linked with problems with learning, cognition, and behavior,” according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

An FDA official provided the following comment: “Our goal is to reduce the levels of lead in foods to as close to zero as possible. For all foods, with or without action levels, when the agency finds that the level of lead causes the food to be unsafe, we take action.”

Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury are in the World Health Organization’s top 10 chemicals of concern for infants and children.

As natural elements, they are in the soil in which crops are grown and thus can’t be avoided. Some crop fields and regions, however, contain more toxic levels than others, partly due to the overuse of metal-containing pesticides and ongoing industrial pollution.

Jeremy Harlan/CNN

How to avoid toxic metals in your baby's food (and yours)

The new FDA guidance suggests manufactured baby food custards, fruits, food mixtures — including grain and meat-based blends — puddings, vegetables, yogurts, and single-ingredient meats and vegetables contain no more than 10 parts per billion of lead.

The exception to that limit is for single-ingredient root vegetables, such as carrots and sweet potatoes, which should contain no more than 20 parts per billion, according to the new guidance.

“There are many challenges in lowering the levels of lead that enter the food supply through the environment,” the FDA official said. “Therefore, our priority is to help lower levels of contaminants in foods while also ensuring that families have access to foods, such as root vegetables, that contain nutrients essential for growth and development.”

Dry cereals marketed to babies and toddlers should also not contain more than 20 parts per billion of lead, the new FDA guidance said.

However, the FDA didn’t propose any lead limit for cereal puffs and teething biscuits, Houlihan said, even though the products account for “7 of the 10 highest lead levels we’ve found in over 1,000 baby food tests we have assessed.”

The limit set for root vegetables will be helpful, Houlihan added. Because they grow underground, root vegetables can easily absorb heavy metals. For example, sweet potatoes often exceed the 20 parts per billion limit the FDA has proposed, she said.

Prior to this announcement, the FDA had only set limits for heavy metals in one baby food — infant rice cereal, Houlihan said. In 2021, the agency set a limit of 100 parts per billion for arsenic, which has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes and neurodevelopmental toxicity.

High levels of man-made chemicals that can harm the immune system were found in the food packaging of popular fast-food restaurants and grocery store chains, according to a Consumer Reports investigation.

148788053/lansa - stock.adobe.com

Dangerous chemicals found in food wrappers at major fast-food restaurants and grocery chains, report says

There is much more that can be done, according to Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental health organization.

“We can change where we farm and how we farm to reduce toxic metals absorbed by plants,” Faber said. “We also urge baby food manufacturers to conduct continuous testing of heavy metals in all their products and make all testing results publicly available.”

Companies can require suppliers and growers to test the soil and the foods they produce, and choose to purchase from those with the lowest levels of heavy metals, Houlihan added.

“Growers can use soil additives, different growing methods and crop varieties known to reduce lead in their products,” she said.

What can parents do to lessen their child’s exposure to toxic metals? Unfortunately, buying organic or making baby food at home isn’t going to solve the problem, as the produce purchased at the grocery store can also contain high levels of contaminants, experts say.

A 2022 report by Healthy Babies, Bright Futures found lead in 80% of homemade purees or store-bought family foods. Arsenic was found in 72% of family food either purchased or prepared at home.

The best way to lessen your child’s exposure to heavy metals, experts say, is to vary the foods eaten on a daily basis and choose mostly from foods which are likely to have the least contamination. Healthy Babies, Bright Futures created a chart of least to most contaminated foods based on their testing.

Fresh bananas, with heavy metal levels of 1. 8 parts per billion, contained fewer heavy metals than other foods tested for the report. After bananas, the least contaminated foods were grits, manufactured baby food meats, butternut squash, lamb, apples, pork, eggs, oranges and watermelon, in that order.

Other foods with lower levels of contamination included green beans, peas, cucumbers and soft or pureed home-cooked meats, the report found.

The most heavily contaminated foods eaten by babies were all rice-based, the report said. Rice cakes, rice puffs, crisped rice cereals and brown rice with no cooking water removed were heavily contaminated with inorganic arsenic, the more toxic form of arsenic.

Close-up of a female pouring freshly made oat milk in glasses. Woman serving healthy oat milk.

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Drink this type of milk to keep you and the planet healthy

After rice-based foods, the analysis found the highest levels of heavy metals in raisins, non-rice teething crackers, granola bars with raisins and oat-ring cereals. But those were not the only foods of concern: Dried fruit, grape juice, arrowroot teething crackers and sunflower seed butter all contained high amounts of at least one toxic metal, according to the report.

While buying organic cannot reduce the levels of heavy metals in infant food, it can help avoid other toxins such as herbicides and pesticides, Dr. Leonardo Trasande, director of environmental pediatrics at NYU Langone Health told CNN previously.

“There are other benefits to eating organic food, including a reduction in synthetic pesticides that are known to be as bad for babies, if not even more problematic,” Trasande said.

Here’s How To Limit Exposure – Forbes Health

‘Closer to Zero’–How the FDA Is Trying to Reduce Lead Exposure
How Do I Minimize Lead in My Child’s Diet?
What Else Can I Do to Reduce Lead Exposure?
What Are the Dangers of Lead Exposure?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced a newly proposed plan to reduce the amount of lead found in processed baby food, lowering it by an estimated 24% to 27%^[1]Lead in Food, Foodwares, and Dietary Supplements. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed 1/25/2023. . Although it may be alarming for parents to hear there’s lead in baby food at all, it’s important to keep in mind that heavy metals, such as lead, are already naturally in our food supply through soil, air and water. Plants can absorb the lead in the environment, and animals may ingest it, which can all lead up to trace amounts in baby food.

While it may be concerning to hear of any heavy metals present in your child’s food, there are steps you can take to limit your little one’s exposure. Read on for expert insight.

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‘Closer to Zero’–How the FDA Is Trying to Reduce Lead Exposure

The FDA’s recent announcement stems from the Closer to Zero initiative, which is part of an ongoing effort by the agency that began in the 1980s with the goal of reducing exposure to lead from foods. Based on science, the initiative is working to “continually reduce exposure to lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury to the lowest levels possible in foods eaten by babies and young children,” the FDA states in a press release.

The ultimate goal of its strategy is to get the amount of lead as “close to zero” as possible, while still ensuring access to nutritious foods for babies and children.

Foods covered under the draft guidance include processed foods, including those sold in jars, pouches, tubs and boxes, for babies and children under 2 years old. The proposed lead levels are below:

10 parts per billion (ppb) for fruits, vegetables (excluding single-ingredient root vegetables), mixtures (including grain and meat-based mixtures), yogurts, custards/puddings and single-ingredient meats
20 ppb for root vegetables (single ingredient)
20 ppb for dry cereals

“The action levels in today’s draft guidance are not intended to direct consumers in making food choices,” explains Susan Mayne, Ph. D., director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, in a press release from the FDA.

“To support child growth and development, we recommend parents and caregivers feed children a varied and nutrient-dense diet across and within the main food groups of vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and protein foods,” she adds. This approach helps your children get important nutrients and may reduce potential harmful effects from exposure to contaminants from foods that take up contaminants from the environment.”

The FDA emphasizes that lead in food doesn’t mean it isn’t safe to consume. The agency evaluates the amount of lead and other contaminants in food to judge whether it poses a potential health risk, acknowledging in a press release that it’s “not possible” to remove lead and other contaminants completely from the food supply. Instead, the agency hopes the new recommendations will result in food manufacturers changing their processes to help lower lead levels in their products.

How Do I Minimize Lead in My Child’s Diet?

A 2019 study by Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF)—an organization that aims to keep children safe from neurotoxic exposures—found toxic chemicals, including lead and arsenic, in 95% of the 168 baby foods it tested^[2]FDA Announces Action Levels for Lead in Categories of Processed Baby Foods. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed 1/25/2023. . In fact, one in four foods tested for this study contained all four metals they evaluated baby foods for: arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury^[3]Heavy Metals in Baby Food. American Academy of Pediatrics. Accessed 1/25/2023. . HBBF notes higher levels of toxic heavy metals can be found in certain foods, such as rice, fruit juice and sweet potatoes. It’s worth noting, too, that the study found detectable levels of heavy metals in commercial baby foods, family brands and homemade purees.

“Heavy metals—including lead—are present in our food supply,” confirms Malina Malkani, a pediatric registered dietitian and Forbes Health Advisory Board member. “They exist in tiny amounts in the soil, and also can be found in water.”

As a parent, you’re likely wondering how to reduce your baby’s exposure to lead in their food as the FDA works toward eliminating as much of it as possible.

“Many of the common ingredients used to make commercial baby foods (i.e., rice, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc.) tend to have comparatively higher levels of heavy metals, which doesn’t make these foods ‘bad,’ but rather highlights the importance of offering them within the context of a variety of foods, rather than serving them every day or multiple times throughout the day,” says Malkani.

Therefore, variety in your child’s diet is key and, she adds, is one of the most effective ways to limit your baby’s lead exposure. “Different foods offer different nutrients —as well as different levels of contaminants,” she explains. “Offering a variety helps ensure that babies and children are getting the range of nutrients they need to thrive and grow, while helping to ensure that they aren’t taking in too much of any one specific contaminant.”

Indeed, “because these metals are absorbed from the soil, there may not be a big difference between store bought and homemade baby food, as the ingredients themselves may contain lead,” says Jane Suhyoung Kim, M.D., a Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health pediatrician who practices at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack, New Jersey. She emphasizes the importance of food variety in minimizing lead exposure so “a child is not eating a single type of food (that may contain a relatively high lead level) daily.”

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) already recommends no fruit juice for babies under age 1 and limiting it in toddlers and children to protect their teeth, Malkani emphasizes that avoiding juice is, “another effective way to reduce exposure to lead in babies and children. ”

Additionally, the AAP recommends switching up your child’s grains, noting that rice tends to absorb more arsenic. Indeed, HBBF’s study reports the most contaminated foods include rice cakes, crisped rice cereal, rice-based puffs, brown rice and other similar foods. Consider adding oat, barley, quinoa, farro, bulgur and couscous to your baby’s plate.

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What Else Can I Do to Reduce Lead Exposure?

While the AAP acknowledges the trace amounts of heavy metals found in baby foods are “a relatively small part of a child’s overall toxic metal exposure risk,” the organization still advises minimizing exposure as much as possible. Toxic metal exposure has been linked to harming a child’s developing brain along with causing learning, cognitive and behavioral issues.

Other recommendations from the AAP to reduce lead in your child’s diet and environment include:

Checking labels on baby food: The agency suggests opting for multi-ingredient baby food blends to ensure your child is getting a wide variety of different foods. It notes that some multi-ingredient foods have the same first or second ingredient, though, which means it’s the one most present in that particular blend.
Have your water checked for lead: Your water may contain lead if your home has older pipes. If you’re concerned, contact your local health department to have your water tested for lead.
Evaluate lead hazards in your home: Aside from water and food, lead is also found in peeling or chipping paint in older homes. Other sources of lead exposure in the home include: certain cosmetics, soil and hobbies or occupations that involve lead exposure.
No smoking or vaping: Children are exposed to lead via second and third-hand smoke from both regular and e-cigarettes. Vaping exposes children to toxic metals from the vape coils exhaled into the air, and anyone in the vicinity can inhale them.

“Minimizing risk of iron deficiency can help, as iron deficiency can increase absorption of lead from the GI tract,” adds Dr. Kim. “A balanced, iron-rich diet is important.”

“For toddlers, milk is an important part of their diet as a great source of calcium and vitamin D, which are important for growth; however, too much milk can contribute to iron deficiency, so recommendations suggest limiting milk intake to 16 to 20 ounces per day,” she adds.

It’s also important to keep up with routine pediatrician visits for your child so they can receive blood work that may alert their doctor to lead toxicity, notes Dr. Kim. “Symptoms of lead toxicity may not be apparent until the blood level gets very high, so it is important to obtain screening blood work at recommended ages (or more frequently if additional risk factors for elevated levels are present) to identify and address elevated lead levels as early as possible, even when asymptomatic,” she says.

Do Organic Baby Foods Contain Less Lead?

While organic baby foods may offer an option for parents concerned about pesticide exposure or other chemicals, they’re not immune to the risk of lead absorption. Heavy metals are in soil, which means they’re found in both organic and inorganic baby foods. In fact, organic baby foods often contain similar amounts of heavy metals as inorganic options.

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What Are the Dangers of Lead Exposure?

“There is no safe level of lead, and elevated lead levels have been associated with delayed development, lower intellectual and academic abilities, higher rates of neurobehavioral disorders, and even death when very severe,” cautions Dr. Kim.

“Lead toxicity is also cumulative, so I think it is important to minimize exposure over time,” she explains, noting that parents should be monitoring any potential lead exposure throughout childhood, not just when a child is young enough to consume baby food. Dr. Kim emphasizes the importance of identifying and addressing elevated lead levels “as early as possible.”

Arsenic, lead and mercury found in popular brands of baby food

https://ria.ru/20210205/pitanie-1596127725.html

Arsenic, lead and mercury found in popular brands of baby food

Found in popular brands of baby food arsenic, lead and mercury - RIA Novosti, 02/05/2021

Arsenic, lead and mercury found in popular brands of baby food .. RIA Novosti, 05.02.2021

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MOSCOW, February 5 - RIA Novosti. High levels of heavy toxic metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, have been found in some U.S. baby formulas that can lead to neurological damage in children, according to a U.S. House of Representatives study. Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee experts examined the domestic documentation from Gerber, Nurture Inc, Hain Celestial Group Inc, Beech-Nutrition, who provided data on a voluntary basis in response to a subcommittee request. It was based on reports of the presence of metals a year earlier. Walmart, Campbell and Sprout Organic Foods refused to cooperate with the investigators. "The subcommittee investigation proves that commercial baby food contains dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium. "metals pose a serious health hazard to infants and toddlers. Manufacturers knowingly sell these products to unsuspecting parents, despite internal company standards and test results, and without any warning labels," the subcommittee on economic and consumer policy said in the text of the study. in the structure of the Committee on Oversight and Reform in the US House of Representatives. It is noted that exposure to toxic heavy metals leads to a "permanent decrease in IQ", as well as a decrease in "infant neurological development and long-term brain function." According to the US regulator and WHO, these four heavy metals are hazardous to human health, "especially for infants and children, who are most susceptible to their neutrotoxic effects."

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MOSCOW, February 5 - RIA Novosti. High levels of heavy toxic metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, have been found in some US baby formulas that can lead to neurological damage in children, according to a US House of Representatives study.

Experts from the Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee reviewed internal documentation from Gerber, Nurture Inc, Hain Celestial Group Inc, Beech-Nutrition, which provided data on a voluntary basis in response to a subcommittee request. It was based on reports of the presence of metals that appeared a year earlier.

August 15, 2020, 02:05 AM

Sugar in baby food deemed dangerous for adults

Walmart, Campbell and Sprout Organic Foods refused to cooperate with the investigators.

"Subcommittee investigation finds that commercial baby food contains dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium. These toxic heavy metals pose a serious health hazard to infants and toddlers. Manufacturers knowingly sell these products to unsuspecting parents, despite internal company standards and test results, and without any warning label," the text of the study by the subcommittee on economic and consumer policy in the structure of the Committee on Oversight and Reform in the US House of Representatives says.

Exposure to toxic heavy metals has been reported to result in a "permanent decline in IQ" as well as a reduction in "infant neurological development and long-term brain function". According to the US regulator and WHO, these four heavy metals are hazardous to human health, "especially for infants and children, who are most susceptible to their neutrotoxic effects."

January 25, 2021, 12:13

The Prosecutor General's Office will check the quality of food in kindergartens and schools

In baby food Gerber and Nurture Inc. found heavy metals

Experts from the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy of the US House of Representatives found dangerous levels of toxic metals in the baby food of several American brands. CNN writes about the progress of the investigation.

Testing found high levels of substances such as arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury in baby products. These heavy toxic metals pose a serious health hazard to children.
Products from Gerber, Nurture Inc., Hain Celestial Group and Beech-Nutrition.
Manufacturers have been accused of knowingly selling these unlabeled products to parents who are unaware of the risks they are putting their children at.
Experts and the World Health Organization also draw attention to the fact that exposure to these metals can lead to a decrease in intelligence, inhibition of the neurological development of infants and impaired brain function.

US Baby Food Market Situation

According to the 2019 Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF) report, 95% of baby food samples tested contain at least one of four substances: arsenic, mercury, cadmium or lead.

Experts tested 168 baby food brands. 25% of them contained all four substances at once.
The researchers specifically recommended avoiding rice-based foods, as well as carrots, sweet potatoes, and fruit juices.
Instead, scientists recommended steaming vegetables for children, feeding them cereals, fruits for breakfast, and using a frozen banana or chilled cucumber to relieve teething pain.

In Russia

, New Zealand (1), Russia (4), Finland (1), Switzerland (1) and Estonia (1), which are sold in Russia.

Experts did not reveal any violations, but only the Belarusian product showed full compliance with all quality standards.
Experts tested the mixtures for microbiological safety and the presence of preservatives and antibiotics.
The results showed that the products are "free of dangerous microorganisms (including salmonella), mold and yeast, preservatives and antibiotics, lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic."

Child food poisoning cases