(3) (4) In January 2023, the FDA finally proposed lead limits as a result of these findings. Other important ways to reduce heavy metal exposure for kids include families making sure their homes are checked for lead-based paint and pregnant women eating fish low in mercury, Trasande advised. FoodNavigator-USA readers cansave 10% with Code:D10-825-825FX01, Copyright - Unless otherwise stated all contents of this web site are 2023 - William Reed Ltd - All Rights Reserved - Full details for the use of materials on this site can be found in the Terms & Conditions, Related topics Now I'm not going to say that any level of these metals is safe. And they still use the same formula today. And in the absence of safe harbor levels for most heavy metals specific to baby food, plaintiffs attorneys will likely continue to file such complaints given that there isnt a specific threshold you can point to and claim protection, said one legal source. The report calls out the industrys alleged "failure to end harmful practices.". According to the report, one Plum product contained 39ppb inorganic arsenic, although the others all tested negative; lead levels ranged from 1-6ppb; mercury from 0.1-0.7ppb; and cadmium from 0.5-24ppb. Several popular baby food brands contain "high levels" of toxic heavy metals -- and they are not doing enough to stop the practice, according to a new report released Wednesday by a U.S. House Oversight subcommittee. for (var i=0; i < aTags.length; i++) Fortunately, there are many good reasons to stick with Gerber baby food. Keller and Heckman offers global food and drug services to its clients. The National Law Review is a free to use, no-log in database of legal and business articles. But that isnt the only problem. No attorney-client or confidential relationship is formed by the transmission of information between you and the National Law Review website or any of the law firms, attorneys or other professionals or organizations who include content on the National Law Review website. You can buy a baby food maker set such as the Baby Brezza Small Baby Food Maker Set Cooker and Blender in One or use the appliances you already have in your kitchen in preparing your babys food. Organic vegetables are a great choice for babies. (4), FDA maximum limits in ppb or parts per billion for infant rice cereal: (5). The FDA retested the sample, was unable to confirm the result by Alaska and confirmed to Gerber that no action was needed," the company said in a statement. Its recommended to cook plums before serving them to your baby. Lets discuss some possible reasons. }); Read FoodNavigator-USA's coverage of the report and the baby food companies' responses HERE and HERE. function sanitize_gpt_value2(gptValue) var vOut = ""; For babies who have only been fed breast milk, switching to solids can be difficult. Commercial baby foods are tainted with significant levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, according to a report released last week by a House Oversight subcommittee. The company has multiple ways to limit exposure to lead. If making your own baby food at home is an option, Trasande supported it, but he recognized that's not realistic for many families. SNAP EBT eligible. They pioneered the baby food industry by selling natural purees that are made with only the best ingredients. (4). She recently attacked the industrys self-regulation, saying it has a history of failing to make products safe for babies. Gerber also used 12 other batches of sweet potato that tests over 20ppb for lead, the EUs upper lenient standard Gerber uses multiple batches of carrots containing as much as 87ppb cadmium, and 75% of the carrots Gerber used had more than 5ppb cadmium, the EPAs drinking water standard., Gerber does not comment on pending litigation, but told FoodNavigator-USA that, We fully stand behind the safety of all of our products,including the products that were the subject of this report. One concern about baby foods is sugar. Gerber is a subsidiary of Nestl.. Other Gerber products currently produced include breastfeeding supplies, such as the Premium Feeding System Manual Massaging Pump, as well as baby bottles and nipples. It is important to remember that infants and babies consume more food in relation to their body weight and absorb mercury more readily than adults. Plaintiffs allege that the company fails to disclose heavy metal levels on its labels. . Unlike traditional baby food, Plum Organics contains no added sugar, salt, or artificial colors or flavors. A class action lawsuit filed against two major manufacturers of baby food has named Gerber and Beech-Nut as defendants. Departments Release Update on No Surprises Act Independent Dispute FY 2024 H-1B Registration Period Indicates 780,884 Registrations; A Look Back at Key Takeaways from RSA Conference 2023. Hain Celestial Group elaborated that they had previously taken steps to reduce heavy metals in their products, like no longer using brown rice in products that are primarily rice-based. All Gerber foods have and continue to meet all applicable guidelines and limits set by the FDA, the governing body for safety regulations in the food industry. What happened to Gerber Plum Baby Food? Brands including Gerber, Plum Organics, Beech-Nut and Walmart are named in the report, which calls on baby food manufacturers to begin voluntarily testing their products for toxic heavy metals and . googletag.cmd.push(function () { (4). report released last week by a House Oversight subcommittee, Many parents are feeding babies solid food too soon, CDC says, Inorganic arsenic levels in some baby rice cereals are too high, FDA says, Medical roundup: Flu season, toxic chemicals in baby foods, Baby bottles can shed millions of microplastic particles: What parents need to know, Jenna talks about baby Hal eating real food for the 1st time, Government set to make its first dietary advice for babies: What parents need to know, Have a new baby? A class action lawsuit filed against two major manufacturers of baby food has named Gerber and Beech-Nut as defendants. Gerber is a great brand for baby food and the best place to find coupons for Gerber baby food would be in the coupon inserts in Sunday newspapers. A. Pawlowski is a TODAY health reporter focusing on health news and features. Healthy Foods This makes it a healthier choice for your childs first few months. In some cases, some of the baby food products analyzed carried as much as 91 times the allowable arsenic level, 177 times the lead level, 69 times the cadmium level and up to five times the mercury level, the report said. Campbell Soup Company, which sells baby food under the brand name Plum Organics, said it cooperated with congressional investigators. The following results are also from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report, too: (3), According to the Congressional Report, the company never responded to the Subcommittee. "The facts speak for themselves, and the fact of the matter is that the baby food industry has consistently cut corners and put profit over the health of babies and children. This included store-bought baby foods as well as homemade purees. While acknowledging that for the majority of heavy metals the FDA has not set thresholds for the level allowed in baby foods (one notable exception is a 100 ppblimitfor arsenic in infant rice cereals), it concluded that commercial baby foods contain dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium . Did anyone else make this type of baby food? SCOTUS Appears Poised To Reject Defense-Friendly Safeco Scienter West Virginia Passes the PFAS Protection Act, Price Transparency CMS Updates Enforcement Process, Get Ready for FDA Investigations Over Semaglutide, EPA Proposes Regulatory Limits for PFAS in Drinking Water. Cantaloupe Should remain on the menu but consumed less than daily. As head of the congressional subcommittee, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi states: My Subcommittees investigation has pulled back the curtain on the baby food industry, and each revelation has been more damning than the last. The second reason is that it failed to remove its products from the market. (4). For a more palatable puree, blanching them in hot water before pureeing will help you make it easier to digest. Yet, the actual results are still several times higher than the FDA standards. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends screening for elevated lead levels in children 9 to 12 months old, and again around age 2. NEW FOODS & SARAF FOODS are now OVEGI - ROHA Group is excited to announce a new brand name to their dried ingredients range, New Foods & Saraf As predicted, several baby food brands have been hit with class action lawsuits alleging false advertising and violations of state consumer protection laws, following the publication of a congressional committee report raising alarm bells about heavy metals in baby food. Its best to avoid preparing these foods for your baby. Manufacturers The choice of a lawyer or other professional is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. ***Mays v Hain Celestial Group, 1:21-cv-01185 filed in New York, Feb 9, 2021. While there are no federally mandated upper limits for lead, mercury and cadmium in baby foods, the FDA sets maximum allowable levels in bottled water at 10 ppb inorganic arsenic, 5 ppb lead, and 5 ppb cadmium, while the EPA has capped the allowable level of mercury in drinking water at 2 ppb. At the age of 30, Pedram is the A California state court judge will allow a Zantac lawsuit to proceed to trial on July 24, 2023. After a series of recalls, one company was forced to change their recipe for plum baby food. Heavy metal levels have been discovered in many baby foods by organizations like Consumer Reports and CR. Up to 560 ppb in Multi-Grain Cereal Canister Up to 641 ppb in Blueberry Purple Carrot Cadmium: Up to 5 ppb in 65% of Nurture baby products Up to 36 ppb in Strawberry Raspberry Up to 49 ppb for Multi-Grain Cereal Canister Beech-Nut Nutrition Company (Beech-Nut) Gerber also is a founding member of theBaby Food Council,a group comprising baby food companies (Beech-Nut, Hain/Earths Best, Gerber, Danone/Happy Family Organics), academics, government, and NGO partners and advisors on a mission to reduce heavy metals in baby foods using best-in-class management practices, noted the spokesperson. The rest of the baby food manufacturers mentioned in the report didnt issue a recall as well. }); A Campbell Soup spokesperson told FoodNavigator-USA that it intended to defend the case vigorously:Campbell is confident in the safety and quality of our products. According to the report, Gerber has failed to disclose the presence of heavy metals in its products, despite its claims to be the worlds most trusted name in baby food. When youre making food for your newborn, consider introducing your baby to a new fruit. Food safety You can either puree the plums in a blender or food processor, or mash them with a potato masher. Out of respect for the legal process, we do not comment on any pending or threatened litigation.. Beech-Nut called its products safe and nutritious. "While the Subcommittee report notes proposed limits on specific heavy metals, those are based on proposed standards from the Baby Food Safety Act, which are not current law or regulation. NLR does not answer legal questions nor will we refer you to an attorney or other professional if you request such information from us. Heres everything you need to know about naps, Worried about pesticides on produce? Baby food . We also share our quality requirements and guidelines for heavy metals with our external partners, including our contract manufacturers. $1.39. Gerber has made a major effort to lower its sugar content. It may also lead to IQ decrease and antisocial behavior. Plum has also become a Certified B Corporation and is committed to environmental sustainability. If you want to introduce plums to your baby, you should make sure theyre fully ripe and sweet. However, the company is still using a lot of pear juice in its baby foods. Only the raw materials are tested. Any legal analysis, legislative updates or other content and links should not be construed as legal or professional advice or a substitute for such advice. Peanut Butter Should remain on the menu but consumed less than daily. (1)(2), Whats alarming is that as much as 95% of baby food products from some of the most popular brands in the U.S. contain significant levels of mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium. Gerber called its baby food safety and quality standards "industry-leading" and among the strictest in the world, with many steps taken to minimize the presence of heavy metals. To date, the FDA has only enacted limits for heavy metals in infant rice cereal and juice, so parents are essentially on their own to figure out for themselves the risks associated with all other foods they give their children.. (7), that may result in product spoilage during handling and transport. National Law Review, Volume XI, Number 40, Public Services, Infrastructure, Transportation. Parents can rest assured our products are healthy and safe, the company said in a statement. Tests have shown that Plum Super Puffs contain over 200 parts per billion of arsenic. Gerber 2nd Foods. The National Law Review is not a law firm nor is www.NatLawReview.com intended to be a referral service for attorneys and/or other professionals. For example, its baby food pouches use recyclable caps and have a smaller carbon footprint than jars. At Gerber, babies are our highest priority. The company is also accused of using cheap pear juice and apple juice to bulk up its products, including the 3rd Foods Lasagna in Meat Sauce Dinner, Banana Peach Granola, and Pear Blueberry Oatmeal. As part of its continuous improvement practices, Beech-Nut continues to work with the FDA to identify the best practices, which may include "finished product testing," according to the statement. attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Hain Celestial Group (Earth's Best Organic), click here for our list of baby foods to avoid from March of 2022, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UPDATED 2022: Baby Foods Toxic Heavy Metals List, Nurture (Happy Family Organics and Happy BABY). Linda McCauley, the Dean of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University, says, [n]o level of exposure to these metals has been shown to be safe in vulnerable infants. She adds that exposure to several sources of heavy metals can cause cumulative effects that are particularly dangerous for young children. Baby food There currently isn't good data to allow for picking certain baby food brands over others when it comes to heavy metal contamination, Trasande said. Toxic elements like arsenic are present in the environment and enter the food supply through soil, water or air. (11)(12), (1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23570911/, (2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4418502/, (3) http://www.healthybabyfood.org/sites/healthybabyfoods.org/files/2019-10/BabyFoodReport_FULLREPORT_ENGLISH_R5b.pdf, (4) https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2021-02-04%20ECP%20Baby%20Food%20Staff%20Report.pdf, (5) https://www.fda.gov/food/metals-and-your-food/arsenic-food-and-dietary-supplements, (6) https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2021/06/09/beech-nut-baby-food-recall-2021-rice-cereal-arsenic/7621243002/, (7) https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/gerber-issues-allergy-alert-clarify-egg-labeling-cheese-ravioli-pasta-pick-upsr, (8) http://news.gerber.com/news/gerber-is-voluntarily-recalling-two-batches-of-gerberR-organic-2nd-foodsR-pouches, (9) https://fox17.com/news/spotlight-on-america/update-first-court-battle-over-toxic-metals-in-baby-food-set-for-trial-in-2023, (10) https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-01-31/after-baby-formula-scandal-fda-announces-new-unit-focused-on-food-safety, (11) https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/24/health/fda-lead-baby-food.html, (12) https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/baby-food/fda-proposes-new-limits-for-lead-in-baby-foods-a2167994237/, Motherhood Community is reader supported. The Gerbers had already been making use of Fremont's services to produce a line of . The NLR does not wish, nor does it intend, to solicit the business of anyone or to refer anyone to an attorney or other professional. Ive released a new report on toxic metals in baby food, including popular brands such as Gerbers Infant Rice Cereal products containing dangerous levels of inorganic arsenic. Our comprehensive and extensive food and drug practice is one of the largest in the world. Sweet Potato, Potato, Carrot, and Baby Spinach Rotate these foods and serve a variety (not the same one each day). Parents who rely on packaged baby food for their infants are getting a concerning new glimpse at whats inside some of the jars, pouches or grain products. Moreover, it does not have added preservatives, which are harmful to your childs health. This article will provide you with information on the safety of your babys favorite food. As a certified organic baby food brand, Plum is a great choice for parents who want to offer healthy foods for their children. Pureed plums can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. And why did Gerber fail to notify consumers? USTR Releases 2023 Special 301 Report on Intellectual Property Washington Signs Into Law an Act for Consumer Health Data Privacy: Dont Look Twice, Its Alright The FCC Pulls Back the Curtain on Trending in Telehealth: April 18 24, 2023. You can also use other foods and beverages, such as fruit juices and yogurt, that are low in sugar. (13) Write a review. 11-Feb-2021 at 00:43 GMT. Underwater Investment: SEC Sues Hawaiian Semisubmersible Company for Privacy Awareness Week Part I- The State of Play. The report called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to set maximum levels of toxic heavy metals allowed in baby foods. Many were at dangerous levels, higher than the limits set by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). Attorney Advertising Notice: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.