On February 4, 2021, the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy found that commercial baby food products sold by some of the largest manufacturers in the industry were contaminated with toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Even low levels of exposure to these toxins have been linked with developmental disorders, including autism and ADHD.
During the investigation, the Subcommittee determined that the industry, which relied heavily on self-regulation, failed to test final products, instead testing single ingredients for heavy metal contamination. Not only were final products not tested, but baby food manufacturers frequently sold products with heavy metal levels exceeding their own internal standards.
Despite calls for stricter standards and mandatory testing, few things have changed since the 2021 investigation. A Consumer Reports/Unleashed Kids Report found that only 16 of 39 baby food brands shared information about their internal testing data as required by California law. Concerns persist over the lack of transparency regarding heavy metal limits and testing in baby food products sold in the US. This article will explain why heavy metals appear in baby food, the limits set by regulatory agencies, and why lawsuits have been filed nationwide.
Why Heavy Metals Appear in Baby Food
While ambient levels of toxic metals exist because they naturally occur in soil and water, independent and internal testing found concerning (non-ambient) levels in commercial baby food products. It is believed that these dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals are the result of bad sourcing practices, industrial contamination, or food processing factors. High levels of toxic heavy metals have been found in both organic and inorganic baby foods.
Common heavy metals found in baby food products:
- Arsenic
- Lead
- Cadmium
- Mercury
While a Healthy Babies Bright Futures study found that 95% of baby food contained toxic heavy metals, some products, such as rice, root vegetables, and fruit juices,are particularly prone to contamination due to the propensity for the toxins to accumulate in these crops. And while low levels of toxic metals may be unavoidable, current lawsuits allege that baby food manufacturers failed to use safer ingredients, sample final products, and avoid vitamins or pre-mix minerals known to contain dangerous levels of these toxins.
Regular testing of ingredients and final products can help to avoid or limit the presence of heavy metals in baby food. Unfortunately, testing remains substandard. This means that children continue to be at risk for autism and ADHD, two neurodevelopmental disorders linked to heavy metal exposure. It is alleged that, despite knowing of the risks, baby food manufacturers failed to warn parents about the dangers associated with consuming their products.
Understanding the Health Risks
According to a study published in Frontiers in Nutrition, exposure to heavy metals can negatively impact people of any age. However, infants and young children are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of toxic heavy metals.
Toxic heavy metal exposure in children may lead to:
- Anemia (low iron)
- Nephrotoxicity
- Developmental and reproductive toxicity
- Lower intelligence quotient (IQ)
- Neurotoxic effects
Another study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics found that children with autism spectrum disorder had higher concentrations of toxic heavy metals in their hair and blood samples compared to children without ASD. The scientific community has been voicing concerns over the toxicity of these metals for some time, including a 2014 study that found that exposure to heavy metals at a developmental stage can cause untreatable brain damage and developmental concerns. Despite overwhelming evidence of the dangers, baby food manufacturers were slow to make changes to their processes in an effort to reduce exposure.
How Are Heavy Metals Measured in Baby Food?
While testing practices differ among baby food manufacturers, some have implemented more rigorous standards to ensure safer products. One concern highlighted in the 2021 congressional investigation into the safety of baby foods was the fact that few baby food manufacturers tested final products.
Instead, most relied on the testing of individual ingredients, and data showed that many companies still used ingredients with toxic heavy metal levels exceeding their internal safety standards. Today, more companies are testing final products or using independent labs to confirm results.
Steps to measure heavy metals in baby food, according to Certified Laboratories:
- Collect a sample: Random samples of ingredients and finished products should be collected. The samples can be tested in-house or sent to an independent lab. ISO 17025 Certified Labs are the industry standard.
- Sample preparation: The lab then prepares and homogenizes the sample.
- Sample digestion: A ½ gram of dry mass is placed into a digestion vessel and combined with certain acids. It is then heated to 200 degrees Celsius to break down the sample into a clear liquid.
- Analysis of the sample: The resulting liquid is diluted with water before being set up in an inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for heavy metal level analysis. Some labs also use an electrochemical technique known as differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). These processes help to determine the concentration of heavy metals in the sample.
As of January 2025, California requires baby food manufacturers to publish testing results, including heavy metal concentrations, for their products. While some companies are not in compliance or make it increasingly difficult to view results, others provide direct links through their websites to all of the data.
What Are the Limits for Heavy Metals in Baby Food?
After decades of failed self-regulation, state and federal agencies have now begun to set limits for heavy metals in baby food products sold in the US and abroad. It is important to note, however, that regulations and enforceability vary, making it difficult to ensure the safety of these products.
- Closer to Zero Initiative: Launched by the US Food and Drug Administration to set action levels to minimize toxic heavy metals in baby food. The initiative sets lead limits at 10 parts per billion (ppb) for most foods, 20 ppb for single-ingredient root vegetables and dry infant cereals.
- California’s AB-899: Beginning in January 2025, baby food manufacturers who sell products in California must test for heavy metal contamination and publish results for consumers.
- European Union (EU) Standards: The European Union sets strict standards for the maximum levels of heavy metals in food products, including lead levels not to exceed 0.02 mg and cadmium levels of 0.04 mg for certain foods.
Which Baby Foods Are Most Affected?
Many commercial baby food products still have heavy metal contamination, according to Consumer Reports. Some products, however, are more prone to contamination due to an accumulation of the metals at the source. Products containing sweet potatoes, rice, and carrots tended to be the most at risk for heavy metal contamination, along with certain fruit juices and formulas.
Baby foods at high risk for heavy metal contamination:
- Single root vegetables
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrots
- Oatmeal
- Mixed vegetables
- Fruit juices
- Rice cereals
Due to concerns over the level of arsenic in rice, Beech Nut (a leading baby food manufacturer) announced in 2022 that it would be “rice free.” The company stated that it would no longer use rice as an ingredient in Beech Nut branded foods due to its inability to consistently obtain rice flour below the FDA’s guidance level.
How to Reduce Heavy Metal Exposure in Babies
Due to toxic heavy metals occurring naturally in the environment, some ambient levels are expected in foods. However, baby food manufacturers can take steps to lower or eliminate non-ambient levels. Parents, hoping to reduce heavy metal exposure in their children, can opt to purchase baby food products that undergo strict testing and ingredient use to limit these toxins.
To reduce heavy metal exposure in babies:
- Purchase baby food products from manufacturers that adhere to strict testing standards and publish contamination levels for consumers.
- Offer a variety of foods.
- Avoid rice-based cereals which may contain high levels of arsenic.
- Use clean, filtered water for preparing baby food.
- Practice safe produce handling, including proper cleaning.
- Read labels carefully for all baby food products.
- Choose fish products containing lower levels of mercury.
Current Lawsuits on Toxic Baby Food
Lawsuits filed nationwide allege baby food manufacturers knew or should have known about the risks of heavy metal contamination in their products. Wisner Baum currently represents over 8,000 families in toxic baby food lawsuits and is currently reviewing and accepting new cases.
Wisner Baum managing partner R. Brent Wisner was appointed to co-lead trial counsel in multidistrict litigation (MDL) In Re: Baby Food Products Liability Litigation overseeing the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC). Litigation remains active and is ongoing.
Contact A Wisner Baum Lawyer For Baby Food Lawsuits
If your child was diagnosed with autism, ADHD or another neurodevelopmental disorder after being exposed to dangerous levels of heavy metals in baby food products, you may be entitled to compensation. Attorneys with Wisner Baum are actively investigating claims against baby food manufacturers who failed to protect and warn consumers about the dangers associated with consuming their products. Contact Wisner Baum today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. There are no fees, unless we win.
