How to Avoid Heavy Metals in Baby Food (and What to Feed Instead)

Heavy metals in baby food. It’s upsetting.

Babies and growing toddlers are highly sensitive to the adverse effects of heavy metals in baby food. Due to a baby’s higher intestinal uptake of nutrients and less developed systems, they absorb more toxic metals that are gradually stored in bodily tissues.

Over time, this exposure can damage the nervous system, leading to lower IQs, behavioral changes, and a higher clinically-documented risk of autism.

We have always recommended making your own baby food and only using store-bought baby food when needed (on trips and occasionally as backups). This is another reminder of why this is so important.

Heavy Metals in Baby Food: What Happened?

After an independent study reported high volumes of toxic heavy metals in baby food and infant nutrition products, a federal investigation (conducted by the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy) sought to uncover the extent of the issue. During this process, seven major baby food manufacturers in the US were asked to provide information regarding their safety standards and practices. 

In February 2021, the Subcommittee published its findings in a scathing report highlighting the extensive contamination of baby food products with heavy metals known to trigger adverse effects in vulnerable infants. Even more concerning, the report’s results were only partial, as several manufacturers refused to provide the requested information.

The Extent of Baby Food Contamination

The Subcommittee uncovered were lacking safety standards, close to no final product testing, and heavy metal concentrations that exceed FDA regulatory limits for other consumable products:

• Lead – 177 times higher
• Inorganic Arsenic – 91 times higher 
• Cadmium – 69 times higher
• Mercury – 5 times higher

After the remaining manufacturers (the holdouts) provided the requested data, the results presented in an updated congressional report from September 2021 confirmed even higher contamination levels. 

In the wake of the Subcommittee’s report, the baby food industry’s tepid response got strong reactions from members of Congress, federal institutions, and a 23-strong Attorneys General coalition headed by New York’s Letitia James, who demanded stricter regulations and mandating final product testing.

Reducing Your Child’s Dietary Exposure to Heavy Metals

Fortunately, a few common-sense approaches can help decrease the amount of toxic heavy metals in their baby’s nutrition.

1. Breastfeeding is the Most Essential Aspect

As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should be exclusively breastfed for up to a year. Mother’s milk is the most crucial element in infant development, providing vital nutrients and immunity-boosting cells. 

Breastfed infants are less affected by chronic illnesses like obesity or diabetes and have a lower risk of allergies or other childhood deficiencies. If you’re actively breastfeeding, be mindful of what you consume (dietary or otherwise) to avoid passing on environmental toxins to your nursing children. 

2. Be Smart About Rice: It Has Elevated Arsenic

Despite its status as a staple crop in infant nutrition, rice has a highly absorbent structure that takes up to 20 times more arsenic from its environment during cultivation. For now, rice is the only ingredient the FDA regulates in baby food due to its higher arsenic uptake, imposing a disputed limit of 100 parts per billion. 

While strains like sushi and basmati rice may be considered safer options, parents should rotate in alternatives with similar nutritional value and texture, such as barley, rye, or organic oats. 

3. Exclude Fish High in Mercury

When transitioning to solid foods, seafood and fish can be valuable additions to an infant’s diet, providing vital omega-fatty acids and lean protein.

Even so, you should know that certain fish species have higher mercury concentrations and should preferably be avoided, mainly including predatory types such as swordfish, shark, marlin, big-eye tuna, or king mackerel.

Alternatively, safer and healthier options that should be considered include canned light tuna, anchovy, herring, sardines, salmon, shrimp, scallops, or lobster. Just be mindful of allergic reactions and refrain from feeding your child sushi or other raw fish. 

4. Make Your Own Baby Food or Practice BLW

Making homemade baby food isn’t difficult, especially when your baby is just starting solids. Do this as much as possible to maintain control over and oversight into the foods your baby is consuming.

And if you’re not looking to make your own purees, you can simplify cooking for your baby by practicing Baby-Led Weaning. This is where you give your baby finger foods and allow them to self-feed.

5. Shop from Reliable Substitutes

The 2019 study released by Healthy Babies Bright Futures non-profit likewise provides a few recommendations to reduce toddlers’ exposure to dietary heavy metals:

• Frozen and chilled vegetables or fruits (cucumbers, bananas) limit exposure to arsenic, cadmium, and lead found in teething biscuits.
• Replacing high-sugar fruit juices with water reduces mercury and lead counts by 68%.
• A broader selection of vegetables offsets heavy metals from crops such as sweet potatoes or carrots by as much as 74%.

“Organic” baby foods aren’t automatically heavy metal-free since crops can still absorb them during the cultivation process. The Toxic Baby Food Replacement Initiative also provides products specifically tested for toxic metals from ethically-responsible manufacturers.

Contributor

This article was written with contributions from Jonathan Sharp, who serves Environmental Litigation Group in the capacity of CFO. The law firm, established in Birmingham, Alabama, specializes in toxic exposure litigation and helps parents whose children develop illnesses after consuming contaminated baby food products.