Less heavy metal in baby food, but still concerning

Heavy metal levels in baby food products appear to be getting lower, but the presence of metals like lead, arsenic and cadmium in various foods continues to be “concerning,” according to a study published Tuesday.

Fourteen baby food products were tested by Consumer Reports as a follow-up to the nonprofit consumer organization’s 2018 study. The report found heavy metal levels appeared to be declining in products, but “worrisome levels” were still detected in certain foods, especially rice, sweet potatoes and snack foods.

But it’s not just ready-made baby foods that contain heavy metals like lead. A 2022 study found similar levels of heavy metals in homemade baby food, too, especially those made from foods like rice and sweet potatoes.

Consumption of heavy metals has been shown to increase the risk of developmental and health problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics has found that even small amounts of lead affect behavior, IQ scores and academic achievement.

“It’s hard to get a low lead” level in certain foods, said Mark Corkins, division chief of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. “To be honest, there’s nothing that’s going to be completely free of any contamination.”

Products with rice and sweet potatoes tended to pose the biggest risk, according to Consumer Reports’ study, meaning rice-based puffs were among some of the worst offenders. (At least one baby food brand, Beech-Nut, has stopped manufacturing rice products altogether because of “inconsistencies in arsenic levels.”)

Other research has also found heavy metals in baby food products.

A 2021 congressional report from the House Oversight Committee found high levels of arsenic, lead and cadmium among products sold by various brands, including Gerber, Beech-Nut, Earth’s Best Organics maker Hain Celestial and Happy Family Organics maker Nurture Inc.

For parents looking to avoid foods with heavy metals, the solution isn’t as easy as avoiding ready-made products.

A 2022 study from Healthy Babies, Bright Futures – an alliance of nonprofits, scientists and donors – tested 288 foods and found no evidence homemade baby food has lower heavy metal levels than store-bought brands. Ninety-four percent of both store-bought baby foods and homemade purees and family brands were contaminated with at least one toxic heavy metal.

That’s because certain crops like rice and sweet potatoes absorb metals more easily as they grow. Some of the metals are naturally occurring in the soil, while others are added from pollution.

According to the Healthy Babies, Bright Futures study:

• Rice cakes and crisped rice cereal are heavily contaminated with arsenic.

• Some fresh carrots and sweet potatoes had high levels of lead, arsenic and cadmium.

• The most heavily contaminated foods consumed by babies include rice cakes, crisped rice cereal, rice-based puffs, brown rice, rice-based teething biscuits and rusks, white rice, raisins, non-rice teething crackers, granola bars with raisins and oat-ring cereal.

The Consumer Reports study tested products from Want-Want (which makes Baby Mum-Mum products), Beech-Nut, Gerber and Earth’s Best.