Items Tagged with 'Consumer Reports'

Of the 21 popular packaged children’s snacks, 14 contained at least one contaminant at levels Consumer Reports considered concerning. Conversely, testing also showed generally low levels of heavy metals, and seven products had no contaminants above CR’s levels of concern.

The investigation analyzed 142 samples representing 52 rice products. Notably, 17 products contained average inorganic arsenic concentrations of at least 100 parts per billion. Rice type significantly influenced average concentrations.

As the agency continues to delay enforcement of Salmonella verification testing for not-ready-to-eat, breaded and stuffed chicken products, Consumer Reports is asking for evidence to support USDA-FSIS’ assertion that currently available test methods are not suitable, which contradicts the agency’s previous stance.

The New York bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature, while the California bill advances from the Assembly to the Senate. The bills would require baby food and infant formula manufacturers to regularly test their products for toxic heavy metals and disclose results.

However, concerning levels of arsenic and lead were detected in some products, and Consumer Reports is therefore urging FDA to set limits for these metals in infant formula. PFAS were also found in more than a quarter of products.

Citing reports of contamination and a lack of federal oversight, California Senator Steve Padilla introduced SB 1033, which would require manufacturers of protein products to test their products for heavy metals and publicly disclose their findings.

The Safe Food Coalition, comprising seven influential stakeholder groups, has written a letter to FDA, CDC, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging the agencies to take immediate action to protect infant formula, in light of the ongoing ByHeart infant botulism outbreak.

A letter sent to FDA urges the agency to immediately withdraw its approval of Carbadox, a carcinogenic swine feed additive. FDA’s proposal to withdraw Carbadox approvals has been pending for two years, during which time there has not been an approved method for detecting Carbadox residue in pork. 

Consumer Reports is urging FDA to set enforceable limits on lead in protein powders after an in-house investigation revealed high levels of contamination, raising concerns about daily exposure and regulatory gaps in supplement oversight.

California Assembly Bill (AB) 1264 has passed the Senate, and now awaits final approval before being sent to the Governor. AB 1264 would define “ultra-processed foods” (UPFs), and would require “UPFs of concern” to be identified and phased out of schools.