The FDA Set New Guidelines for ‘Acceptable’ Levels of Lead in Baby Food

On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that, for the first time, it is setting guidelines for an acceptable level of lead in processed baby food, including canned fruit and vegetables, yogurts, ready-to-eat purées, and cereals. 

According to the release, the new rule reflects “the levels of lead at which the FDA may regard the food as adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.” the guidelines, titled “Action Levels for Lead in Processed Food Intended for Babies and Young Children: Guidance for Industry,” it added, is the latest move to support its Closer to Zero initiative, which aims to “reduce dietary exposure to contaminants, including lead, in foods to as low as possible over time, while maintaining access to nutritious foods.” 

According to the FDA, the acceptable levels of lead in baby food are as follows:

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

The FDA importantly noted that the levels are not “zero” because lead and other contaminants can naturally occur in the air, water, and soil, which produces the fruits, vegetables, and grains used in these products. But, “Because the very young are more vulnerable to adverse health effects associated with exposure to contaminants, we prioritized reducing exposure from foods commonly consumed by young children.” As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explained, lead exposure in children can lead to damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed development, learning disabilities, hearing and speech issues, and cause general “long-term harm.” 

However, the FDA added that this new action does not cover juices, infant formula, or snack foods like “puffs and teething biscuits.” It explained it’s in the process of collecting additional data on grain-based snacks to see if a similar action is appropriate. 

Still, experts say this may be too little, too late. 

“FDA’s actions today are a step forward and will help protect children,” Thomas Galligan, a scientist with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, shared with CBS. “However, the agency took too long to act and ignored important public input that could have strengthened these standards.”

And as Jane Houlihan, the national director of science and health for Healthy Babies Bright Futures, additionally noted to CNN, “Lead in infant formula, homemade baby food ingredients and foods bought outside the baby food aisle account for about three-fourths of children’s food exposures to lead.” That could include the “concerning” levels of lead Consumer Reports found in popular brands of veggie puffs, in Kraft Heinz’s Lunchables, or in several top brands of cinnamon. “As it stands,” Houlihan added, “the new lead limits for commercial baby foods would reduce children’s total dietary lead exposure by less than 4% — a negligible improvement.”