Throughout the country, families are filing legal claims alleging Plum Organics baby food contains unsafe levels of toxic heavy metals. Studies show that exposure to heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental harm, including autism and ADHD.
This page will focus on legal claims involving Plum Organics, separate from broader toxic baby food litigation. Plum Organics is currently named in multidistrict litigation pending in the Northern District of California. This MDL has hundreds of pending actions filed against leading baby food manufacturers, including Plum Organics.
Families of children who consumed Plum Organics products may be eligible to file a claim for compensation and should speak with the attorneys at Wisner Baum to determine if they meet the criteria necessary to take legal action.
Plum Organics – 2026 Updates
August 2026: Toxic baby food litigation grows to 478 pending actions.
The number of pending actions in MDL-3101 IN RE: Baby Food Products Liability Litigation has grown to 478 pending actions. Since July 2026, the federal litigation has gained another five cases. The litigation remains in its early stages, as attorneys prepare pretrial motions and work through discovery.
July 2026: More Cases Added to Baby Food MDL Against Plum Organics and Other Manufacturers
There are now 473 pending claims in the federal toxic baby food MDL.
May 2026: Toxic baby food litigation remains at over 400.
The number of pending actions in the toxic baby food litigation (MDL 3101) remained at 402 pending actions as of May 1, 2026. The multidistrict litigation is expected to continue to grow in the coming months due to the widespread use of commercial baby food products, including those under the Plum Organics brand. Wisner Baum currently represents over 8,000 families who allege their children suffered harm after consuming these products.
March 2026: California Attorney General issues enforcement advisory letter to baby food manufacturers.
On March 6, 2026, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an enforcement advisory letter to baby food manufacturers who sell or operate in the state. The letter reminds manufacturers of the requirements established under California Assembly Bill 899. The bill requires baby food manufacturers to test samples of their products for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury at least once a month and to make those results publicly available on the manufacturer’s website. Failure to comply with the requirements under AB 899 can result in civil penalties and criminal liability.
December 2025: General-causation experts testify at a Rule 702 hearing in the baby food MDL.
In December 2025, U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley held a multi-day evidentiary (Daubert) hearing in MDL 3101 to assess whether the parties’ general-causation experts could testify on the question of whether heavy metals in baby food can cause autism or ADHD. Both plaintiffs and defendants presented expert witnesses.
April 2025: Court allows baby food injury claims to proceed.
In April 2025, Judge Corley ruled on the manufacturers’ motions to dismiss the consolidated personal-injury claims, granting the motions in part and denying them in part. The ruling allowed the plaintiffs’ core claims against baby food manufacturers, including Plum Organics, to move forward while dismissing or striking certain other allegations, clearing the litigation to advance toward expert discovery.
April 2025: Reuters analysis identifies baby foods exceeding California’s lead limit.
An April 2025 Reuters analysis reviewed 1,757 heavy-metal test results from nine baby food manufacturers that were disclosed for the first time under California’s new testing law. Reuters reported that 102 of those results were above the state’s maximum limit of 0.5 micrograms of lead per day, including Plum Organics Just Prunes.
January 2025: California’s baby food testing law takes effect.
On January 1, 2025, California Assembly Bill 899 took effect, requiring baby food manufacturers to test their products for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury at least monthly and to publish the results.
What Is the Plum Organics Baby Food Lawsuit?
Plum Organics, along with other baby food manufacturers, is accused of distributing baby food products that contain high levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Plaintiffs, through legal documents, claim that exposure to these heavy metals has been linked to developmental conditions, such as autism or ADHD.
Hundreds of claims filed against Plum Organics and other baby food manufacturers have been centralized into multidistrict litigation (MDL 3101) currently pending in the Northern District of California. Litigation is ongoing, and claims against Plum Organics continue to be investigated.
Who Owns Plum Organics?
Plum Organics was originally founded in 2007 by a group of parents. It was acquired by the Campbell Soup Company in 2013. The brand remained under Campbell’s ownership during the 2021 Congressional investigation into baby food products. In March 2021, Campbell announced that Sun-Maid Growers of California had acquired the brand. The anticipated closing date of the acquisition was Spring 2021. Sun-Maid Growers continues to own the brand today.
Why Plum Organics Products Are Being Investigated
After reviewing claims that baby food products may be tainted with high levels of toxic heavy metals, the U.S. House Oversight Committee issued a report in February 2021. The report found that not only did most commercially available baby food contain toxic heavy metals, but that manufacturers failed to follow even their own practices to reduce or eliminate these toxins. In February 2021, several baby food manufacturers, including Campbell, the then-owner of Plum Organics, failed to comply with the Subcommittee’s investigation, drawing scrutiny from investigators.
Today, both independent and government-led inquiries have raised concerns about the safety of baby food products. Consumer advocacy organizations and lawmakers have since called for stronger limits on heavy metals in baby food.
Toxic Heavy Metals Found in Plum Organics Baby Food Products
According to testing, heavy metals were found in Plum Organics baby food products. Families nationwide allege that exposure to these heavy metals has caused or substantially contributed to their children's developmental disorders, such as autism and ADHD.
Arsenic: According to a follow-up report issued by the U.S. House Oversight Committee, 100% of Plum Organics’ Super Puff rice-based products tested between 2017 and 2019 contained arsenic levels exceeding 200 parts per billion (ppb). The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ranks arsenic first on its priority list of substances that pose the greatest potential threat to human health.
Lead: According to the Subcommittee, over half of the Plum Organics products tested contained lead levels exceeding 5 ppb, the maximum level the FDA allows in a bottle of water. The FDA has acknowledged that even low levels of lead exposure can negatively impact a child’s development. Exposure to the toxin can lead to learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and lowered IQ.
Cadmium: The report found that nearly 39% of Plum Organics products tested had cadmium levels exceeding 5 ppb, again exceeding the maximum allowed in a bottle of water. Studies have associated cadmium exposure with deteriorations in children’s cognitive functions.
Mercury: As with many manufacturers, Plum Organics did not test its products for mercury levels.
Plum Organics Products Named in the Lawsuit
Several Plum Organics products have been named in lawsuits filed nationwide. Both internal and third-party testing reports show elevated levels of heavy metals in some Plum Organics products. Plaintiffs allege that these products were marketed as safe based on their organic labeling despite testing that showed elevated levels of heavy metals.
Plum Organics products identified in lawsuits and testing reports:
- Plum Organics Super Puffs Apple with Spinach
- Plum Organics Super Puffs Mango with Sweet Potato
- Plum Organics Super Puffs Blueberry with Purple Sweet Potato
- Plum Organics Super Puffs Strawberry with Beet
- Plum Organics Mighty Morning Bar Blueberry Lemon
- Plum Organics Mighty Sticks Apple Carrot
- Plum Organics Mighty Sticks Berry Beet
- Plum Organics Teensy Snacks Berry
- Plum Organics Grow Well Tummy
- Plum Organics Grow Well Muscle
- Plum Organics Little Teethers Blueberry
- Plum Organics Little Teethers Pumpkin and Banana
- Plum Organics Mighty Snack Bars Strawberry
- Plum Organics Just Prunes
- Plum Organics Stage 2 Pear, Purple Carrot, and Blueberry
- Plum Organics Just Sweet Potato Pouches
Which Plum Organics Products Were Recalled?
While Plum Organics has not recalled any products related to heavy metal contamination, the company has previously issued recalls for other issues. In November 2013, for instance, Campbell announced it was voluntarily recalling a range of products from its Baby Stage 2, Tots Mish Mash, and Kids lines due to a manufacturing defect that could cause spoilage. The recall was not related to heavy metal contamination and only applied to a limited number of products.
The absence of a recall does not prevent families from filing a lawsuit against Plum Organics or other baby food manufacturers if they believe their child suffered harm as a result of consuming the products.
Am I Eligible for the Plum Organics Lawsuit?
Some families whose children suffered harm after consuming Plum Organics baby food products may be eligible to file a legal claim. The best way to determine eligibility for a Plum Organics lawsuit is by consulting with an experienced attorney.
Factors that may determine eligibility:
- The ability to prove that your child regularly consumed Plum Organics baby food products.
- Confirmed diagnosis of a developmental disorder including autism or ADHD.
Proof of consumption through product purchase records, feeding history, and medical records may help to strengthen a case. Parents concerned that their child’s developmental condition may be related to consumption of contaminated baby food products are encouraged to seek a case evaluation to determine eligibility.
Understanding the Baby Food MDL Process
Hundreds of cases are currently centralized in the Northern District of California. Consolidating cases to multidistrict litigation helps to streamline the pre-trial processes. Unlike in a class action, claims in an MDL remain individual for the purposes of compensation; they are simply grouped together for pretrial proceedings, including bellwether trials. Bellwether trials are cases that are tried early in the litigation process to test legal theories and see potential outcomes. The results of these trials can influence settlement decisions.
Multidistrict litigation can take months or even years to complete. For families who have pending claims, it is important to remain patient as the litigation process plays out. In addition to the federal MDL, families also have the option to file individual lawsuits through the appropriate jurisdiction.
What Compensation is Available in Plum Organics Baby Food Lawsuits?
Families who are eligible to take legal action against Plum Organics may be entitled to compensation based on whether they can prove that consumption of the products led to harm. Successful claims are often eligible for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include compensation for medical expenses, therapy costs, special education services, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket losses. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, include compensation for less tangible losses, including emotional distress or the loss of quality of life.
Every claim is different, and compensation in a particular case will depend on certain factors such as the child’s diagnosis, exposure history, and supporting evidence. Working with an attorney can help determine the potential value of a claim based on the individual circumstances of the case.
How to File a Plum Organics Baby Food Claim
Families interested in pursuing legal action against Plum Organics are encouraged to contact Wisner Baum for a free case evaluation. During this process, an intake specialist will help provide guidance and resources about the potential claim, including whether you may be eligible to file a lawsuit.
Steps to file a Plum Organics baby food claim:
- Gather documentation related to the case, including purchase records, product packaging or labels, and feeding logs.
- Secure medical records detailing a diagnosis for autism, ADHD, or another relevant condition.
- Contact Wisner Baum at (310) 207-3233 to schedule a free, no-obligation case consultation. Throughout the process, attorneys with the firm will provide guidance to help determine eligibility, file the complaint, and move forward with joining the MDL or individual litigation.
- Act quickly, as cases are governed by a statute of limitations that limits the amount of time a family has to file a claim. Failure to file within the legal deadline could result in the case being dismissed.
Contact a Plum Organics Baby Food Lawsuit Lawyer
Families affected by Plum Organics baby food heavy metal contamination are encouraged to contact Wisner Baum at (310) 207-3233 for legal consultation. Toxic baby food cases are accepted on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no fees unless compensation is secured on the client's behalf. Consultations are complimentary and without obligation to retain the firm.
Wisner Baum currently represents over 8,000 families who have been affected by toxic baby food. Managing partner R. Brent Wisner was appointed co-lead trial counsel in the toxic baby food MDL and oversees the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee.
Early action is critical in these cases. It can help families access justice and resources that will help to hold companies accountable for the alleged harm they have caused.
