Room for Improvement: Arsenic, Lead in Infant Formula

The most recent testing assignment included 49 infant formulas, including more liquid formulas, alternative protein formulas, and hypoallergenic formulas. The samples were tested for arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, acrylamide, PFAS, and BPA and other bisphenols. Key findings included:

• Arsenic: Approximately half (26 of 49) of formulas contained inorganic arsenic at or above CR’s safe threshold, which is based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) assessment of the health risks posed by inorganic arsenic
• Lead: Three powdered formulas exceeded CR’s safe threshold, which is based on California’s maximum daily limit; this is a regression from the 2025 report, in which no product exceeded CR’s level of concern
• PFAS: At least one PFAS compound was found in more than a quarter of products tested, ranging from 0.1–5.6 parts per billion (ppb); many of the detected PFAS were more obscure compounds compared to legacy PFAS like PFOA and PFOS, which are better understood and more regulated
• Acrylamide: Only two powdered formulas tested positive for low levels of acrylamide
• Bisphenols: BPA was detected in three powdered formulas, and other bisphenols (i.e., BPF and BPS) were not detected at all
• Cadmium and mercury: Several formulas tested positive for these metals, but at such low levels that they did not pose a concern.

Overall, one-third of the liquid and ready-to-feed formulas tested were considered “top choices” by CR, indicating that they had either very low or undetected levels of contaminants. More than half of the powdered formulas were named “top choices.”

“Our tests found that some brands had potentially concerning levels of arsenic and lead,” remarked Sana Mujahid, Ph.D., Manager of Food Safety Research and Testing, CR. “But just as importantly, we found that there are many safer alternatives that are widely available, which is very good news for parents. Our findings demonstrate that it is possible for manufacturers to produce baby formula without worrisome contaminants.”

The full breakdown of CR’s latest sampling and testing assignment, including brand-by-brand results, can be found here.

Calling on FDA to Set Limits for Contaminants in Infant Formula

Based on the newly published findings of its expanded testing assignment, CR has renewed its call on FDA with a petition urging the agency to ensure that all infant formula products are free of unsafe levels of contaminants.

“It’s time for Operation Stork Speed to deliver by holding manufacturers accountable for getting toxic heavy metals out of infant formula,” said Brian Ronholm, Director of Food Policy, CR. “FDA needs to establish enforceable limits on heavy metals in baby formula and test these products regularly to ensure dangerous contaminants don’t pose health risks to newborns.”

Although FDA has set action levels for select metals in certain foods commonly consumed by babies and young children under the “Closer to Zero” initiative (i.e., lead in processed baby foods and inorganic arsenic in apple juice), the agency does not enforce limits for any metals in infant formula.