Given the critical importance of ensuring the safety of baby food, the involvement of citizen scientists in testing for toxic metals cannot be overstated. Baby food, a primary nutritional source for infants, must be free from contaminants that could impair their health and development. Recent investigations have revealed concerning levels of toxic metals like arsenic, lead, cadmium, aluminum, and mercury in various baby food products. These findings underscore the need for vigilant monitoring.
Citizen scientists, equipped with the appropriate tools and methods, can play a pivotal role in this ongoing vigilance by conducting independent tests taking over the role that was supposed to be performed by regulatory agencies. Our participation democratizes the monitoring process, increases transparency, and builds a larger dataset from which safer standards and practices can be developed. By contributing to such initiatives, citizen scientists help uphold public health standards, pressuring manufacturers, and regulatory bodies to address potential risks proactively and protect our most vulnerable population — infants.
The regulatory scrutiny historically given to baby food compared to baby formula stems from distinct dietary roles and consumption patterns in infants’ diets. Baby food, including purees and cereals, often incorporates a variety of agricultural ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, and grains, which are susceptible to environmental contamination from pesticides, heavy metals, and other residues. As a result, these products have been subject to testing to ensure they meet safety standards that protect infants from potential toxicants.
Conversely, baby formula, which is designed to be a complete or partial substitute for breast milk, is manufactured through a more controlled process. It involves specific, often synthetic, ingredients designed to mimic the nutritional profile of human milk. This has led to a perception of inherently controlled safety, resulting in less frequent independent testing. However, given the critical role formula plays in the health and development of infants — particularly those for whom it is the sole nutritional source —there is a compelling case for it to undergo scrutiny as rigorous as that for baby food, ensuring it is free from contaminants and safe for our most vulnerable consumers.
Unfortunately, for reasons that are unclear, infant formulas have not been included in recent legislation to ensure baby food safety both state-wide and from federal regulations.[1] AB899 is a California legislative bill signed into law in October, 2023, requiring baby food producers to meet health and safety codes.[2] However, infant formulas were not included in that bill.
Three groups united together
(GMOScience.org, Moms Across America, and
The New MDs) to evaluate this very question. Twenty infant formulas were tested,
2 samples of each, in April 2024.
Among the toxic metals tested — arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, and aluminum — mercury and lead are particularly notorious for their toxicity to infants and children. However, mercury is often considered the most toxic for babies due to its profound and detrimental effects on the developing nervous system. Exposure to even small amounts of mercury can cause serious health issues in infants, including developmental delays and brain damage. Lead also poses significant health risks, impacting cognitive development and causing neurological and behavioral problems. Both metals are dangerous and should be avoided in environments where children are present.
An Introduction to our Research