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Report on Baby Food Products Shows Widespread Contamination of Toxic Heavy Metals

Feb 5, 2021 | Product Liability

A congressional investigation released February 4, 2021, found that baby food manufacturing companies knowingly sold baby food that contained high levels of toxic heavy metals, including inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury.

Both the FDA and the World Health Organization have determined that these neurotoxins are harmful to human health, even at low levels. Infants and children are particularly vulnerable to toxic heavy metals that can permanently damage a developing brain resulting in behavioral and cognitive impairments.

The U.S. House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy conducted the investigation following a 2019 report by Healthy Babies Bright Futures showing that 95% of the baby foods randomly pulled off store shelves contain toxic metals above the limits the FDA sets for bottled water.

During the investigation, the committee requested internal documents and test results from seven of the largest U.S. baby food manufacturing companies. Walmart (Parent’s Choice baby food), Sprout Foods (Sprout Organic Foods) and Campbell Soup Co. (Plum Organics baby food) didn’t cooperate with the investigation.

The four companies that shared internal documents include, Gerber; Beech-Nut Nutrition Company; Nurture, Inc. (HappyBABY products); and Hain Celestial Group (Earth’s Best Organic).

While several companies voluntarily set thresholds for toxic heavy metals – levels that are dangerously high – internal reports show that they often ignore their own standards and release baby food to stores despite levels of heavy metals that exceeded their own standards.

The Subcommittee expressed serious concern over baby food manufacturers that refused to participate in the investigation, specifically, Walmart, Sprout Organic Foods and Campbell.

“Their lack of cooperation might obscure the presence of even higher levels of toxic heavy metals in their baby food products, compared to their competitors’ products.”

If you purchased baby food from any of these companies, your baby may have been exposed to dangerous levels of heavy metals. Contact us for more information.

  • Gerber
  • Beech-Nut Nutrition Company (Beech-Nut)
  • Nurture, Inc. (HappyBABY)
  • Hain Celestial Group (Earth’s Best Organic)
  • Walmart (Parent’s Choice)
  • Sprout Foods (Sprout Organic Foods)
  • Campbell Soup Co. (Plum Organics)

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