Are there heavy metals in your baby’s food?
A new study confirms YES.
A national investigation done by Healthy Babies Bright Futures, tested 168 baby foods (61 brands) and found heavy metals in 95% of them. (1)
1 in 4 baby foods contained all 4 toxic heavy metals assessed by their testing lab, including arsenic and lead.
How many baby foods had multiple heavy metals in a single container?
4 metals 26%
3 metals 40%
2 metals 21%
1 metal 8%
0 metals 5% (9 foods)
In how many baby foods was each heavy metal found?
Arsenic 73%
Lead 94%
Cadmium 75%
Mercury 32%
And guess which foods topped the list?
Rice-based foods such as infant rice cereal (See my post on Skipping Rice Cereal for Baby!), rice dishes and rice-based snacks. Not only are they high in inorganic arsenic, but “are nearly always contaminated with all four toxic metals”. (1)
Brands such as Gerber, Sprouts, Similac, Infamil, Plum, Earth’s Best, etc were tested and foods such as rice cereal, rice, puffs, juices, purees, and other snacks were tested. And no, being organic didn’t have much effect on the metal levels. *sigh*
Why is this concerning?
According to HBBF, “Even in the trace amounts found in food, these contaminants can alter the developing brain and erode a child’s IQ. The impacts add up with each meal or snack a baby eats. Fresh research continues to confirm widespread exposures and troubling risks for babies, including cancer and lifelong deficits in intelligence from exposures to these common food contaminants. Despite the risks, with few exceptions there are no specific limits for toxic heavy metals in baby food”.
But don’t worry, HBBF offers some great tips for reducing your baby’s exposure to heavy metals while shopping in the grocery store. I provided a table in the comments to help you locate it easier!
I know it can be daunting, but making your baby’s food is actually very easy and will greatly reduce your baby’s exposure. You can also check out the Baby Led Weaning method which doesn’t require any pureeing. (2)
I am also including my Pinterest Board with some awesome Baby Puree recipes down in the comments! (3)
Sources:
1. https://www.healthybabyfood.org/…/BabyFoodReport…
2. http://www.babyledweaning.com/
3. https://pin.it/bdg7oqhdziihcm
Questions? Just ask!
Want to work with me 1:1 to create the perfect diet for you and/or your family? Contact me today at dana@thrivekin.com.