A New Report Released on Heavy Metals in Popular Baby Foods

In February, the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy in the U.S. House of Representatives released Baby Foods Are Tainted with Dangerous Levels of Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury. To create the staff report, the Subcommittee requested internal documents and test results from seven of the largest baby food manufacturers in the United States, including both makers of organic and conventional products. The report states that four of the companies responded while the other three did not.

According to the Subcommittee’s internal company documents and test results, commercial baby foods are tainted with significant levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Exposure to toxic heavy metals can cause a permanent decrease in IQ, diminished future economic productivity, and increased risk of future criminal and antisocial behavior in children. Toxic heavy metals endanger infant neurological development and long-term brain function.

The Subcommittee ends the staff report with the statement that the time is now for the FDA to determine whether there is any safe exposure level for babies to inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, to require manufacturers to meet those levels and to inform consumers through labels.

“Most parents would be shocked to think there is a possibility of dangerous levels of heavy metals in the foods they’re feeding their children,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Therefore, at EMSL Analytical, we offer food testing and labeling services. These services are available to manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, regulators, health professionals, and the general public.”

To learn more about food and beverage testing or labeling services, please visit www.FoodTestingLab.com or www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com .


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail