The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced new recommended action levels for lead in certain processed baby foods. The proposed action levels supports the Closer to Zero initiative to continually reduce babies’ and young children’s exposure to toxic heavy metals from food.

The FDA draft guidance, titled, Action Levels for Lead in Food Intended for Babies and Young Children, covers processed foods—such as products packaged in jars, pouches, tubs, and boxes—intended for babies and children less than two years of age. Lead may be present in the aforementioned foods because the agricultural commodities the products are derived from—fruits, vegetables, grains, and animals—take up contaminants in the environment, as well as nutrients. Therefore, the covered foods can provide nutrients that are essential for child growth and development, but may also be a source of exposure to contaminants.