FDA weighs in on heavy metals in baby food as lawsuits pile up In the wake of the recent congressional report into heavy metals in baby food, the FDA says its goal is to reduce exposure to toxic elements in foods through research and collaboration, but has not said if it plans to issue guidance on upper limits for heavy metals for more food categories, as lawsuits against the baby food brands referenced in the report continue to pile up.
Since the
report was published on February 4, Gerber, Beech Nut Nutrition, Campbell Soup (Plum Organics), Nurture Inc (Happy Family Organics) and Hain Celestial (Earth’s Best) have all been
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‘The agency has failed to adequately regulate baby food…’ NY attorney general urges FDA to set standards for heavy metals By Elaine Watson
In a
letter to acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock, James said the findings of a recent
report from the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy in the House of Representatives, were “
distressing.”
Noting that her office would
“explore all options as it relates to baby food manufacturers” [a statement we have asked her office to clarify]
she said:
“The FDA should set standards across all baby foods, not just rice cereal, and require all food manufacturers to test their finished products for toxic metals rather than just their separate ingredients.
Some Baby Foods Found to Contain High Levels of Toxic Heavy Metals
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 in calling for new standards and testing requirements.
The panel examined products made by Nurture Inc., Hain Celestial Group Inc., Beech-Nut Nutrition and Gerber, a unit of Nestle, it said, adding that it was “greatly concerned” that Walmart Inc., Campbell Soup Co. and Sprout Organic Foods refused to cooperate with the investigation. The U.S. baby food market was worth an estimated $8 billion in 2020, according to Euromonitor.
As predicted, several baby food brands have been hit with class action lawsuits alleging false advertising and violations of state consumer protection laws, following the publication of a congressional committee report raising alarm bells about heavy metals in baby food.