A new California law will make baby food manufacturers tell parents a lot more about their heavy metal content

Update: Since this article was originally published, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued the following action levels for lead in baby food to guide manufacturers: 

• 10 parts per billion (ppb) for fruits, vegetables (excluding single-ingredient root vegetables), mixtures (including grain- and meat-based mixtures), yogurts, custards/puddings, and single-ingredient meats

• 20 ppb for single-ingredient root vegetables

• 20 ppb for dry infant cereals

The baby food aisle in the grocery store can feel overwhelming, but a new law in California aims to help parents feel a little more informed as they’re choosing between all of the various options. 

California Assembly Bill 899 (also known as AB 899) requires all baby food manufacturers to test their products for certain heavy metals like arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. And as of January 1, each manufacturer will also begin including a QR code directly on the product labels; the code takes shoppers to a website where they can see how much of those heavy metals are in any given baby food. The bill and regulations only apply to baby food made, sold, delivered, or held in California. If you live in another state, you won’t necessarily see a QR code on the packaging, but you can still find the same information online if your baby food is also sold in California.  

If you’re wondering how these heavy metals and this new regulation might affect your baby’s health, that’s very normal. We spoke with Chandani DeZure, M.D., a pediatrician, mom, and BabyCenter Medical Advisor, about what this news means and what to look for in the baby food aisle.

BabyCenter: Why are heavy metals in baby foods?

Dr. DeZure: Heavy metals like arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury exist in nature and all around us including in the soil and water [used to grow] fruits and vegetables, and even our meats.

BabyCenter: Since heavy metals are part of nature, do parents need to know how much heavy metals are in their baby’s food?

Dr. DeZure: Yes, as a parent, you definitely want to be aware of the heavy metals that exist in your baby’s food. We know that high exposure to certain heavy metals like lead can lead to learning, behavior, and attention problems. Yet heavy metals exist in everything around us so it’s not realistic to eliminate them entirely. 

If you’re concerned (or just curious!) about your child’s exposure level, you can have your baby’s lead levels tested at your pediatrician’s office starting around the age of 1. The good news is that heavy metal poisoning (which can cause the adverse side effects mentioned above) would require a very high level of exposure, more than what exists in typical baby food.

BabyCenter: Will parents notice any changes with baby food or baby food labeling, given the new regulations?

Dr. DeZure: The legislation requires monthly arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury laboratory testing for all baby food made, sold, delivered, or held in California. These results will be posted to baby food websites – parents can scan a QR code on the package to get to that information online. 

One concern that I have about the labeling and availability of information is how to ensure parents interpret what they’re reading correctly. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in the process of setting reference levels of heavy metals in all food so you can understand the information provided and make your own decisions about what to feed your family. Until then, it’s really challenging for parents to know what to do with the information. Lower values are better, but overall a diet full of fresh vegetables, fruits, and varied grains, whether store-bought or premade, will be the nutritionally optimal choice. If parents want to follow how the FDA is determining “action levels” (or how much is too much) for these heavy metals, they can follow the FDA’s “Closer to Zero” initiative. 

BabyCenter: What should parents look for when buying pre-made baby food?

Dr. DeZure: Since you will now be able to see the amount of heavy metals in the baby foods you purchase, it’s important to try to pick options with the lowest amount. It’s not realistic to expect there to be no heavy metals in baby food (or any food for that matter) and ultimately, a diet with a variety of foods is more important than eliminating certain higher heavy metal foods. 

And if you can, try to buy organic. This won’t necessarily reduce exposure to heavy metals, but the fruits and vegetables may have lower levels of pesticides and other chemicals. 

You can also look for options with very few ingredients and minimally added sugars. And if you’re not able to look at the label each and every time you head to the grocery store, or you’re unable to buy organic, don’t stress. It’s all about doing what you can.

BabyCenter: Should parents make their own baby food to reduce exposure to these heavy metals

Dr. DeZure: When it comes to homemade versus store-bought baby food, there’s no data suggesting homemade baby food has lower levels of heavy metals than store-bought food. But there may be additional benefits to homemade food since homemade options are less processed. 

To be completely fair, some heavy metals like zinc and iron are necessary for normal development too, so not all heavy metals are necessarily bad. All that to say, homemade is great when you can, but premade baby food is just fine, too. 

To minimize exposure to toxic heavy metals, the best thing to do is feed your baby a variety of different foods, especially fruits and vegetables. 

– Chandani DeZure, M.D., pediatrician, mom, and BabyCenter Medical Advisor

BabyCenter: How can parents reduce exposure to heavy metals in their baby’s food?

Dr. DeZure: To minimize exposure to toxic heavy metals, the best thing to do is feed your baby a variety of different foods, especially fruits and vegetables. Researchers are working hard to figure out which foods contain more heavy metals, but right now, we do know that products like spinach, grape juice, and rice-based foods typically have the highest amounts. That doesn’t mean you should avoid feeding your baby these foods all together, it just means to try and limit the amount they’re eating when you can, and add in other foods instead. 

Foods that tend to have the lowest amount of heavy metals include:

• bananas

• apples

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• oranges

• watermelon

• green beans

• peas

• butternut squash

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• cheese

• yogurt

• eggs

• meats

• beans

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You don’t have to avoid rice just because it can be a top offender, just rotate what you’re giving your baby. Non-rice grains, like pasta or quinoa, are good to add into their diets, too. Washing and peeling your produce can also help minimize the exposure to pesticides and heavy metals, as can buying some of your fresh foods organic. The Environmental Working Group (an organization that regularly researches the safety of our foods) makes it easy to understand what to buy organic (and what you don’t have to) with the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15.

Ultimately, as long as you’re serving your baby a variety of different foods, you’re doing the absolute best thing for them. Once these new regulations come out, keep an eye on the foods you buy, and talk to your pediatrician if you have any questions about what options might be best for your family.