It’s not possible to remove all traces of lead from the food supply, because the heavy metal is found throughout the environment and can be absorbed by plants. So traces are found in the vegetables, fruits and grains that are used to make baby food.
But as toxic metal exposure can be harmful to developing brains, the Food and Drug Administration is issuing new guidelines to reduce children’s exposure to the lowest level possible.
The new FDA guidance calls for limiting lead concentrations in all processed foods intended for babies and children less than two years old. Lead concentrations should now be limited to 10 parts per billion in fruits, vegetables and meats packaged in baby food jars, pouches, tubs and boxes. The target is 20 parts per billion for dry cereals.
The FDA estimates these lower levels could result in a 24 to 27% reduction in exposure to lead resulting in “long-term, meaningful and sustainable reductions in the exposure to this contaminant from these foods,” according to a statement by FDA Commissioner Robert Califf.
“We know that the less amount of these metals in babies’ bodies, the better,” says Dr. Aaron Bernstein, a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. So, he says the goal should be to minimize how much lead a child is exposed to.
“Parents need to recognize that foods have metals in them naturally in some cases,” he says. So it’s best “to feed your child a variety of foods to the extent that’s possible.” Some foods will have more lead than others and a varied diet is also good for nutrition — so following “good nutritional guidance will also reduce exposure to these metals,” Bernstein says.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has several tips for parents on how…
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