A Congressional investigation found levels of arsenic, lead and other toxic metals that can impair brain development in many popular baby foods, including organic brands.
In a report released on Thursday, a U.S. House subcommittee said it requested internal data from seven companies, including Walmart, in 2019, after a non-profit organization called Healthy Babies Bright Futures published the results of tests done on baby food.
Four of the companies – Gerber, Beech-Nut, Hain Celestial, maker of Earth’s Best Organics and Nurture Inc., maker of Happy Family Organics – shared documents. The subcommittee said Walmart, Sprout Foods and Campbell Soup Co., which makes baby food Plum Organics, did not cooperate.
Arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury – metals that the US Food and Drug Administration considers harmful to human health – may remain in the environment for decades due to past use of pesticides and herbicides, according to Michael Hansen, a senior scientist at Consumer Reports .
Toxic metals may be more common in baby foods because of the vitamins and minerals added to these foods during processing, he said. Rice, a common ingredient in baby foods, also tends to have high levels of arsenic. Rice is grown in water, and the arsenic in the soil dissolves when it comes in contact with water, he said.
Since babies’ brains are still developing, there is a lot of concern about how these metals can impair that development, said Hansen. When symptoms like behavioral problems appear, it can be difficult to track them down to food, he said.
Hansen said parents who are concerned should switch to unprocessed fruits and vegetables. The FDA also recommends feeding babies a variety of grain-based cereals, not just those made with rice.
Last August, the FDA finalized guidance for infant rice cereal, recommending that it contain no more than 100 parts per billion of arsenic. The subcommittee’s report said Beech-Nut used some ingredients tested at up to 913 parts per billion arsenic, while Earth’s Best Organics used ingredients tested at up to 309 parts per billion arsenic.
The report found some cases where manufacturers tested ingredients, but not finished products, although levels of toxic metals may be higher in finished products. He also found cases where manufacturers set internal standards, but still sell foods that exceed them.
The subcommittee, which is chaired by Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, said he wants the FDA to set standards for the presence of heavy metals in baby foods.
Manufacturers should be required to test finished products and publish the results, the subcommittee said in its report.
In a statement on Thursday, the FDA said it takes exposure to toxic elements in the food supply very seriously. The agency said baby food manufacturers have made progress in reducing arsenic in baby food since 2016, when they first proposed setting the 100 ppb target.
“We recognize 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,” said the agency.
Campbell Soup Co. said it responded to the subcommittee’s questions. In that presentation, he noted that the FDA does not have standards for heavy metals in baby foods. But he said his tests show that the metals in his baby foods are within acceptable limits.
Walmart also said it contacted the subcommittee, but made it clear that any product testing would be managed by its suppliers.
Happy Family Organics said he was disappointed by the report, which says it does not make it clear that metals and minerals are found in small amounts in many foods. Happy Family also said that the test results provided in 2019 do not reflect all current products.
Earth’s Best Organics also said that the report refers to outdated data. The brand said it removed brown rice from its products, changed other ingredients and expanded testing of finished products after a meeting with the FDA last year. Beech-Nut said he is still reviewing the report, but assured parents that baby food is “safe and nutritious”.
A message asking for comments was left with Gerber.
Hansen said the FDA should require baby food companies to test the finished products and make the results available, mainly for organic brands.
“You can’t just allow companies to do their own thing,” he said.