Significant amounts of arsenic, lead, mercury and other toxic heavy metals are contained in baby foods made by the largest such companies in the US, according to a report published Thursday by a House Oversight subcommittee.
Why it matters: Babies and children are more vulnerable to severe and neurotoxic damage from toxic heavy metals than adults. The report alleges that the FDA took no action under the Trump administration after learning of the increased risk of heavy metals in baby food.
- “Exposure to these toxic heavy metals affects the development of the brain and nervous system of babies, it affects their behavior, permanently lowers their IQ and, if you want to buy it down to dollars, their lifetime income potential,” said Tom Neltner, chemistry policy director. Environmental Defense Fund, told the Washington Post.
What they found: Gerber, the No. 1 baby food retailer in the US, “rarely tests for mercury.” According to the report, many of the company’s ingredients contain cadmium, lead and products with a high arsenic content.
- Beechnut, the second highest seller in the country, routinely used additives with high arsenic content and “many ingredients with high lead content”. The company does not test for mercury in its food.
- Hain Celestial, maker of Earth’s Best Organic foods, sold high-arsenic end products and typically did not test finished products. The company also used “many high-lead ingredients” and 102 cadmium-containing ingredients.
- To cherish, manufacturer of Happy Family Organics products, sold baby food containing as much as 641 parts per billion (ppb) of lead. The company’s tests showed that the typical baby food product contained 60 ppb inorganic arsenic.
In numbers: The FDA has set the maximum limit for inorganic arsenic in bottled water at 10 ppb. Beech-Nut used ingredients after testing as high as 913 ppb of arsenic, while Hain sold baby food containing as much as 129 ppb of arsenic, according to the report.
What they say: The commission’s report accuses manufacturers of “knowingly” selling tainted baby food to unsuspecting parents, despite internal company test results showing high levels of toxic heavy metal, and without any warning labels, “said Chairman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D- Ill.) Said in a press release.
- “I look forward to the FDA’s careful regulation of these toxic heavy metals in baby food, followed by strict compliance requirements and mandatory consumer labels,” said Krishnamoorthi.
The FDA said in a statement that it revises the report’s findings and “takes exposure to toxic elements in the food supply very seriously, especially when it comes to protecting the health and safety of the youngest and most vulnerable in the population.”
- “Toxic elements, such as arsenic, are present in the environment and end up in the food supply via soil, water or air. As they cannot be completely removed, our goal is to reduce exposure to toxic elements in foods as much as possible and we have been actively working on this issue using a risk-based approach to prioritize and focus the agency’s efforts , ”the agency said.
- “We recognize that there is more work to be done, but the FDA reiterates its strong commitment to continuing to reduce consumer exposure to toxins and other contaminants from food.”
Gerber told the Post that it had not seen the report and was unable to comment on specific findings. Hain did not respond to the Post’s requests for comment.
- A spokesperson for Beech-Nut said in a statement to Axios that the company’s food is “safe and nutritious,” and that the company is reviewing the report and looks forward to continuing to work with the FDA and Baby Food. Council.
- Happy Family Organics said in a statement that the company is “disappointed with the many inaccuracies, selected data usage and tone bias” in the committee’s report. “We can say with the utmost confidence that all Happy Family Organics products are safe for babies and toddlers,” said the spokesperson.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with sayings from Happy Family Organics and Beech-Nut.