According to Healthy Babies Bright Futures, a group dedicated to "measurably reduce the largest sources of babies' exposures to toxic chemicals," nearly nine out of ten baby foods tested had no enforceable federal safety limit for these heavy metals. “We acknowledge that there is more work to be done, but the FDA reiterates its strong commitment to continue to reduce consumer exposure to toxic elements and other contaminants from food,” the FDA said Thursday. The FDA has declared that inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury are dangerous, particularly to infants and children, the report noted. Oct. 17, 2019 -- Nearly all foods made for babies contain at least one toxic heavy metal that can harm brain development, according to a … Walmart said it submitted information to the committee in February 2020 and never received any subsequent inquiries. The FDA has been made aware of the report released today by the Subcommittee in Economic and Consumer Policy Committee on Oversight and Reform at the U.S House of Representatives and is reviewing its findings. Kerner had her first child, Chloe, a year ago. He tells parents to limit rice and sweet potato products, which tend to absorb more pollutants because of the way they are grown. Baby food from several of the country's largest manufacturers are "tainted" with toxic heavy metals, according to a disturbing new government report. Of the 61 baby food brands that were tested, some of them were organic brands, including Plum Organics, Beech Nut and Earth’s Best. 08 Feb 2021 --- The US baby food industry has hit back at a report from The Committee on Oversight and Reform that says infant foods are tainted with dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals. Rice, a common ingredient in baby foods, also tends to have high levels of arsenic. Baby food from several of the country's largest manufacturers are "tainted" with toxic heavy metals, according to a disturbing new government report. The panel examined baby foods made by Nurture, Hain Celestial Group, Beech-Nut Nutrition and Gerber, a unit of Nestle, it said, adding that it was “greatly concerned” that Walmart, Campbell Soup and Sprout Organic Foods refused to cooperate with the investigation. Congressman Krishnamoorthi believes that voluntary entry efforts are not enough. However, this same research by Consumer Reports, as well as work by other organizations, has shown that most baby food and fruit juice still contain harmful levels of heavy metals… 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 … According to the report, 168 baby foods were tested, and one in four products contained four toxic heavy metals. © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. “Because they cannot be completely removed, our goal is to reduce exposure to toxic elements in foods to the greatest extent feasible,” the FDA said. Yet a new congressional subcommittee investigation found major concerns over the presence of metals in baby food. For worried parents wondering if they should throw out their baby food — experts say no, there is no need to panic if the products are in the pantry, and that the key is moderation. Concern over heavy metals in baby food has existed for a long time and the findings aren’t surprising, said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a pediatrics … The metals can be especially dangerous to babies' and toddlers' brain development. This is the terrifying findings of a recent (November 2019) study by Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF), an organization dedicated to reducing babies’ exposure to toxic chemicals. We know. A new congressional report takes these companies to task for lead, mercury, and more. Parents often say they are looking for the healthiest, safest food for their babies. "That's the real big issue. She said the revelation was "very concerning as a new mom.". U.S. congressional investigators found “dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals” in certain baby foods that could cause neurological damage, a House Oversight subcommittee said in a report released on Thursday. Toxic heavy metals damaging to your baby’s brain development are likely in the baby food you are feeding your infant, according to a new investigation published Thursday. But one thing Kerner and her husband Bryan, who is a doctor, never worried about was whether the baby food contained toxic metals. The … Cadmium and mercury were also present in the baby foods at high levels. Stream CBSN live or on demand for FREE on your TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone. Some of the nation’s top baby food brands contain “dangerous levels” of toxic heavy metals including mercury, inorganic arsenic, lead and cadmium, a new Congressional report has … The report says "baby foods are tainted with dangerous levels" of "toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury.". Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat who chairs the panel that released the report, said it found “these manufacturers knowingly sell baby food containing high levels of toxic heavy metals ... It’s time that we develop much better standards for the sake of future generations.”. He plans to introduce legislation to step up FDA oversight. Crops take up heavy metals from the soil and water as they grow, and some absorb more than others. Compared to the levels allowed by the FDA in bottled water, the report claimed, the results were "up to 91 times the arsenic level," "up to 69 times the cadmium level," and "up to 177 times the lead level.". Lead was the most common, appearing in 94% of samples, followed by cadmium at 75%, arsenic at 73% and mercury at 32%. “To this day, baby foods containing toxic heavy metals bear no label or warning to parents. The report said the FDA took no new action in response. “To this day, baby foods containing toxic heavy metals bear no label or warning to parents. The retail giant requires private label product suppliers to hew to its own internal specifications, “which for baby and toddler food means the levels must meet or fall below the limits established by the FDA.”. Nurture sold all products tested, regardless of how much toxic heavy metal the baby food contained. But, most baby food and formula companies do rigorously test their products, and usually the amount of heavy metals in these products is lower than the standards set by the government, she says. Dickerson also recommends avoiding snacks like crackers and puffs, which in Consumer Reports' investigation had higher levels of heavy metals, and vary their child's diet. Plus, juice is high in sugar and not as nutrient rich as whole fruit. The FDA in August finalized guidance to industry, setting an action level of 100 parts per billion inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal. When asked for a response, the FDA said it has been working on reducing exposure to toxic elements in foods, but acknowledges there is more work to be done. Several said they are part of the Baby Food Council, a group formed with the goal of voluntarily reducing heavy metals in baby foods. Researchers say that developing brains of babies and young children are "uniquely vulnerable" to toxic chemicals, which can cause "permanent brain injury." As a parent, you only want the very best for your child, especially when it comes to the foods she eats. The US federal regulators have been ordered to set stricter standards on the food manufacturers after a congressional investigation found high levels of toxic metals in several top baby food brands. Copyright © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc.All rights reserved. Congressional panel called on regulators to set maximum levels of elements like inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury permitted in baby foods. The report also pointed out that there's "no enforceable federal safety limit" for heavy metals for most of the baby foods tested. Exposure to heavy metals in food can be harmful to children because of effects on brain development, according to the FDA, but the extent of potential harm from the levels found in baby … Stick with breast milk or formula for babies under 6 months old, and water and milk after they reach age 1. The report, released Thursday morning, says those baby foods have "significant levels" of substances including lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury. Illinois Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi told CBS News that getting heavy metals out of food sold for infants is critical. Baby food from leading manufacturers contains dangerous amounts of heavy metals. The runner-up with the second-lowest overall levels of these heavy metals is the HappyBABY Oats & Quinoa Baby Cereal, Organic Whole Grains with Iron. They also found perchlorate, a rocket fuel chemical, inside baby food & infant formula used as an “anti-static” agent. In a new investigation released, close to 200 baby foods were tested across the United States and 95% of them contained one or more heavy metals like arsenic, lead, cadmium or mercury. The agency noted toxic elements are present in the environment and enter the food supply through soil, water or air. Some fruit juices can contain concerning levels of heavy metals. In the recent study from Healthy Babies Bright Futures, some foods also stood out as being particularly risky. IE 11 is not supported. And there are steps that we can take," Dickerson said. Campbell said in a statement on its website that its products are safe and cited the lack of a current FDA standard for heavy metals in baby food. Toxic metals in baby food: How worried should parents be about commercial baby foods that contain heavy metals, including lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium. Hain Celestial, which makes Earth’s Best, said it had not seen the report and did not have a chance to review it. "That's the least thing a mother wants to think about. Yet, CR’s 2018 testing of baby food showed it is feasible for manufacturers to produce products with very low levels of these contaminants. Heavy metals at levels called ''troublesome'' are lurking in foods commonly eaten by babies and toddlers, according to a new Consumer Reports investigation of 50 packaged foods made for children. This means that organic baby food and even homemade baby food aren’t safe from these heavy metals, unless you use the safest baby foods that are recommended by HBBF and other organizations. The report said internal company standards “permit dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals, and documents revealed that the manufacturers have often sold foods that exceeded those levels” and it called on U.S. regulators to set maximum levels of toxic heavy metals permitted in baby foods and require manufacturers to test finished products for heavy metals, not just ingredients. CBS News asked those companies for comment, and all who responded said they are committed to safety. Heavy Metals in Baby Foods - Vegetable Purees Of the 38 tested vegetable (single and multiple) purees, only 1 contained excessive Arsenic levels (HappyBABY Sweet Potatoes Stage 1). Consumer Reports' James Dickerson says there's not too much cause for alarm, since these heavy metals are naturally occurring. Of the four that did, all showed the presence of lead, arsenic and cadmium in their own test results — at levels the report says "eclipse" maximum levels set for other products. The problem is not new, however — Consumer Reports did its own testing of 50 nationally-distributed baby foods in 2018, finding "every product had measurable levels of at least one" of three heavy metals, and 68% "had worrisome levels of at least one heavy metal.". About a third of the products we tested contained heavy metals below our level of concern, and in some products, there were no … “To this day, baby foods containing toxic heavy metals bear no label or warning to parents. Manufacturers are free to test only ingredients, or, for the vast majority of baby foods, to conduct no testing at all,” the report said. Investigators asked seven U.S. baby food manufacturers to provide internal documents and test results. This is horrifying. According to the report, 95% of baby food containers tested had “toxic heavy metals.” Oh, baby, baby, that does not sound good. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 95% of baby food — even organic baby food — contains one or more toxic heavy metals. "I don't know a mom or dad that wants neurotoxins in their babies' foods," he said. Watch CBS News anytime, anywhere with the our 24/7 digital news network. Products made with rice, particularly cereals, were the … Make healthy fish choices. Manufacturers are free to test only ingredients, or, for the vast majority of baby … CR’s findings that heavy metals are very common in rice products and that baby food cereals and snacks are higher in heavy metals than baby food fruit and vegetables are … "Which is to make sure that the food that their babies consume is safe.". All the companies that responded also said they either comply with government standards, have developed their own internal quality and testing standards, or both. You want to minimize the risk, you can't eliminate it entirely, but you can minimize it. "I just looked for the ingredients," Kerner told CBS News consumer investigative correspondent Anna Werner. Ever since, she said she has been paying close attention to what is in Chloe's food. The company said it thought it had been “full partners” in the study with congressional researchers. But as Connecticut mom Carrie Kerner found out, it's difficult to look for something you may not even be aware of. Troubling risks include lowering IQ, problems in school and even criminal behavior later in life. Manufacturers are free to test only ingredients, or, for the vast majority of baby … According to the House of Representatives oversight subcommittee report, dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals are in certain baby foods that could cause neurological … Rice is grown in water, and arsenic from the soil dissolves when it … The U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight’s subcommittee on economic and consumer policy unveiled its findings on Feb. 4 of … You're already worrying about her choking — about what goes into these foods," Kerner said. A new congressional report found that some baby food products contain elevated levels of heavy metals like arsenic and lead, but experts say the headlines aren't as scary as they sound. A Gerber representative said the elements in question occur naturally in the soil and water in which crops are grown and added it takes multiple steps “to minimize their presence.”, The report was critical also of the administration of former President Donald Trump, saying it “ignored a secret industry presentation to federal regulators revealing increased risks of toxic heavy metals in baby foods.”, The report said “in 100 percent of the Hain baby foods tested, inorganic arsenic levels were higher in the finished baby food than the company estimated they would be based on individual ingredient testing.”, It said that in August 2019 the FDA received a secret slide presentation from Hain that said “corporate policies to test only ingredients, not final products, underrepresent the levels of toxic heavy metals in baby foods.”. Arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury — those are among the toxic heavy metals a congressional subcommittee found in leading brands of baby food, including some sold to parents believing organic foods were best for their babies. • Naturally occurring toxic heavy metals may not be the only problem causing the unsafe levels of toxic heavy metals in baby foods; rather, baby food producers like Hain may be adding ingredients that have high levels of toxic heavy metals into their products, such as vitamin/mineral pre-mix. The subcommittee, the main investigative committee in the US House of Representatives, argues that manufacturers knowingly sell baby food containing dangerous levels of arsenic, … California Privacy/Information We Collect. A Food and Drug Administration spokesman said it was reviewing the report. "If there was any added preservatives, sweeteners or added sugars, I wouldn't buy it, so I basically just wanted to get organic.". One-fourth of the sampled foods, which included both mainstream and niche brands, contained all four heavy metals. "So now we need the FDA to step into the breach and do what I think the American people believe it is, is its job to do," he said.
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