We’ve Known About Heavy Metals in Baby Foods for Years, Here’s What You Can Actually Do About It

Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law that will require baby food companies to test for heavy metals.

But brands won’t have to start testing their products for toxic chemicals, like arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, until the first day of 2024 and won’t have to provide those results until the first day of 2025. 

In other words, new parents are stuck in limbo for over a year, knowing that some products may not be safe for infants and having to figure out how to buy around them before brands are forced to do something about it. 

And this is hardly the first time that the conversation around heavy metals in baby food has come up.

“Heavy metals in foods are not new. They have always been there,” Jennifer Anderson, R.D.N., founder of Kids Eat In Color, tells The Messenger. 

From scientific studies, to articles in Consumer Reports, to staff reports from U.S. House of Representative subcommittees — numerous groups from diverse backgrounds have expressed concern over the potential harm lurking in infant foods. 

Amid newfound worry over unknowingly feeding babies dangerous substances, what are parents supposed to do? The Messenger spoke with children’s nutrition experts to see what they recommend. 

How dangerous are heavy metals for babies? 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) previously launched an initiative to decrease children’s and babies’ exposure to contaminants as much as possible while still “maintaining [their] access to nutritious food.” 

Studies have shown consuming more heavy metals can be associated with increased chances of several issues, including brain and body development and cancer. 

In January, the FDA issued proposed guidance for allowed levels of heavy metals in processed baby food: 10 parts per billion (ppb) for fruits, most vegetables, grain and meat mixtures, yogurts, puddings and single-ingredient meats; and 20 ppb for single-ingredient root vegetables and dry cereals. 

“Though this [issue] is not unique to babies, their bodies are so small and therefore everything they eat has a much greater impact, therefore making this population exquisitely susceptible,” Caroline Weeks, R.D.N., a pediatric dietitian who specializes in teaching parents how to start solids, tells The Messenger via email. 

Weeks makes a good point: The problem of heavy metals in food isn’t confined solely to baby foods. In fact, anyone eating root vegetables including carrots, onions and potatoes risks exposure to certain metals found in the soil. Adults are often just less susceptible because of their size and weight.

And it’s not as simple as just buying products labeled “organic.” The reason these foods contain heavy metals in the first place is because the metals occur naturally and can get absorbed by crops. Groundwater near growing plants can also introduce heavy metals, as can food processing treatments. 

Are some baby foods worse than others?

A Consumer Report study from June found that some of the products that raised the most red flags include:

When tested, these products were found to have high levels of arsenic, cadmium or lead. The study recommends feeding babies less than half a serving a day of these products to ensure safe levels of heavy metal consumption.   

In general, sweet potatoes and rice, including rice puff snacks, often contain some of the highest levels of heavy metals because of the way they absorb what’s in soil. 

Consumer Report also pointed out that snack foods, like puff snacks or teething bars, can be especially unsafe because parents don’t always realize what a serving size is supposed to be for a baby. They can unknowingly feed their babies much more meaning the baby consumes a higher amount of  heavy metals than they should be. Experts recommend reading and sticking to the container’s recommended serving sizes. 

Beech-Nut stopped selling its Single Grain Rice Cereal in 2021 because it contained high levels of arsenic. In recent years, some products from Happy Baby Organics, Earth’s Best and Hot Kid have also shown higher levels of heavy metals. 

Anderson recommends visiting the Clean Label Project website if you’re curious about the baby food you’re buying. The organization independently tests baby food products and recommends the best ones based on several health factors including heavy metal levels. 

What are some safer alternatives?

To a certain degree, coming across heavy metals in food is “inevitable,” Weeks says. 

But there are steps you can take to mitigate potential harm and ease your fears.