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Most baby foods contain heavy metals that could affect development
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Ninety-five percent of all baby foods tested by Healthy Babies Bright Futures, an alliance of organizations aimed at reducing exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals during the first 1,000 days of life, contained at least one toxic chemical, including arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, according to a new report published by the group.
The group found that one in four of these baby foods contained all four metals.
“Arsenic, lead and other heavy metals are known causes of neurodevelopmental harm,” Philip Landrigan, MD, MSc, a pediatrician and director of the Program in Global Public Health and the Common Good in the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society at Boston College, said in a news release. “Low-level exposures add up, and exposures in early life are especially dangerous. The cumulative impact of exposures is what makes this a significant concern that demands action.”
“Current arsenic contamination levels in rice cereal and juice are 36% and 75% less, respectively, than the amounts measured a decade ago,” Jane Houlihan, MSCE, research director of Healthy Babies Bright Futures, said in the release. “When FDA acts, companies respond. We need the FDA to use their authority more effectively, and much more quickly, to reduce toxic heavy metals in baby foods.”
The group suggested several alternatives to foods that contain high levels of arsenic and other heavy metals. Instead of rice puff snacks, they suggested other rice-free snacks that could reduce levels by up to 93%. Frozen bananas or chilled cucumbers could replace teething biscuits or rice rusks and reduce levels by up to 91%. They also suggested the use of tap water over fruit juice and a variety of fruits and vegetables instead of exclusively carrots and sweet potatoes.
Specifically, the researchers identified 15 foods frequently consumed by children aged younger than 2 years that account for just over half of the risk to children’s brains, including apple and grape juice, oat ring cereal, macaroni and cheese and puff snacks. Rice-based foods account for the highest levels of inorganic arsenic.
A previous study published in PLOS One suggested that nearly 75% of rice-based infant foods, including cakes, crackers and cereals, surpass the maximum levels of inorganic arsenic recommended by the European Union.
The researchers noted that the FDA and other experts suggested sourcing rice from areas with lower arsenic levels in soil, using natural soil additives to prevent arsenic uptake in plants, changing irrigation strategies, using extra water when preparing rice and pouring off additional water, and blending rice with grains that have lower arsenic levels.
“Parents can protect their babies today by choosing nutritious and affordable alternatives to the most contaminated foods,” Landrigan said. “And, to protect the babies of tomorrow, the food companies and the FDA need to step up and do more.” – by Katherine Bortz
References:
Healthy Babies Bright Futures. What’s in my baby’s food? https://www.healthybabyfood.org/sites/healthybabyfoods.org/files/2019-10/BabyFoodReport_FULLREPORT_ENGLISH_R5b.pdf. Accessed October 18, 2019.
Meharg AA, et al. PLoS ONE. 2017. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0176923
Disclosures: Infectious Diseases in Children was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures prior to publication.