According to a new report, 159 out of 168 baby foods tested were found to contain toxic metals including arsenic, lead, cadmium or mercury. The contaminated 95% contained at least one of the heavy metals, while one in four of the baby foods tested contained all four metals. Of the 168 baby foods tested, only nine were found to be free of any trace of heavy metals.
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The baby foods tested included 61 brands and 13 different types of food. Fruit juices and rice-based products, including rice cereals and puff snacks, were determined to be the highest risk foods. Rice is highly absorbable when it comes to pesticides, including arsenic. Of seven infant rice cereals tested, four contained inorganic arsenic — the more toxic form — in levels exceeding 100 parts per billion, the Food and Drug Administration’s proposed limit.
Root crops including sweet potatoes and carrots were also determined high risk. Lead was the most common metal found, appearing in 94% of the baby foods tested, which included infant formula, fruit juices, cereals and teething biscuits.
Thanks to their use in pesticides in previous decades, the heavy metals still remain in the soil and have found their way to groundwater. All four metals are neurotoxic and pose serious risks to healthy brain development in children. According to a recent data analysis, exposure to arsenic and lead in food has caused American children 0 to 24 months of age to lose more than 11 million IQ points, with rice-based foods accounting for 20%.
While it may take more time, homemade baby food is one of the best ways to protect your child from toxic contaminants. It gives you complete control over the ingredients; no unresolved questions about potential additives, preservatives, mysterious “natural flavors” or other toxins.