FDA Sets Lead Limits in Baby Food “`
On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established maximum allowable lead levels in various baby foods, including jarred fruits and vegetables, yogurts, and dry cereals. This action aims to reduce young children’s exposure to this toxic metal, known to cause developmental and neurological issues.
The FDA’s final guidance is projected to decrease lead exposure from processed baby foods by approximately 20% to 30%. While these limits are voluntary for manufacturers, the FDA retains the authority to enforce them if exceeded.
This initiative aligns with the FDA’s ongoing commitment to minimize dietary exposure to contaminants, including lead, while ensuring access to nutritious foods, the agency stated.
Consumer advocates, who have long pressed for lead limitations in children’s food, welcomed the guidance (initially proposed two years prior), though some expressed that it didn’t go far enough.
Thomas Galligan of the Center for Science in the Public Interest stated that the FDA’s action represents progress in protecting children, but criticized the agency for the lengthy process and for overlooking valuable public feedback that could have strengthened the standards.
The new lead limits for children under two years old exclude grain-based snacks (such as puffs and teething biscuits), which studies indicate may contain higher lead levels. Additionally, the limits do not address other metals, like cadmium, also found in baby foods.
Brian Ronholm of Consumer Reports deemed the limits essentially meaningless, asserting that they prioritize industry practicality over public health.
A spokesperson for Gerber, a baby food manufacturer, confirmed that their products comply with the new limits.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there’s no safe level of lead exposure for children. Lead causes significant health problems, including brain and nervous system damage, as well as developmental delays. However, lead’s natural presence in some foods and environmental contamination make complete elimination impossible.
The FDA guidance sets a lead limit of 10 parts per billion for fruits, most vegetables, grain and meat mixtures, yogurts, custards, puddings, and single-ingredient meats. A 20 parts per billion limit applies to single-ingredient root vegetables and dry infant cereals. The guidance covers packaged processed foods sold in jars, pouches, tubs, or boxes.
This new guidance follows a significant outbreak of illness affecting over 560 children in the U.S. between October 2023 and April 2024, according to the CDC.
Lead levels detected in those products were over 2,000 times higher than the FDA’s maximum. Officials emphasized that the agency doesn’t require specific guidance to address foods violating existing laws.