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NewsContamination Control

New Congressional Report Shows High Levels of Arsenic, Other Poisons in Baby Food

baby food cans
February 8, 2021

In a congressional report released February 4, entitled "Baby Foods Are Tainted with Dangerous Levels of Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury," it was revealed that some baby food contains very dangerous levels of arsenic and other poisons. 

The report was submitted by the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy Committee on Oversight and Reform U.S. House of Representatives, and is 59 pages long. 

The subcommittee is concerned that the companies might not be forthcoming and that there might be even higher levels of toxic heavy metals in their baby food products, versus the products of their competitors.

The report was requested in November 2019 and looked at four toxic heavy metals: inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization have declared these metals dangerous to humans, especially to babies and children, who are the most vulnerable population. According to the report, even low levels of these metals can cause irreparable damage to brain development.

The internal documents and test results were originally requested on November 6, 2019, from the following manufacturers:

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

Click here to view the full report. 

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