Is there Lead in your Baby Food?

Jun 23,2017

A new study released by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) reveals that a surprising amount of baby food in the U.S. contains lead. The study evaluated 10 years of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data concerning lead in food. Of the 2,164 baby food samples studied, 20% contained detectable levels of lead.

The most common baby foods containing lead were:

Fruit juices – 89% of grape juice, 67% of mixed fruit juice, 55% of apple juice and 45% of pear juice samples contained lead
Root vegetables – 86% of sweet potatoes and 43% of carrots sampled contained lead
Cookies – 64% of arrowroot cookies and 47% of teething biscuits contained lead

Lead exposure is a health concern for anyone, but it is especially dangerous for babies and young children. According to the EDF, more than 1 million young children in the U.S. consume more lead than is considered acceptable by the FDA.

Heavy lead exposure can cause brain development problems in children. Some examples are reduced attention span and increased antisocial behavior. Lead poisoning can also cause other symptoms, like anaemia, hypertension, renal impairment and toxicity to reproductive organs.

Reduce Children’s Exposure to Lead

The EDF recommends parents consult their pediatricians for ways to reduce their children’s exposure to lead. Parents can also check with their baby food brands to see whether they test their foods for lead. Food should contain less than 1 ppb of lead.

“We’ve known about the dangerous effects of lead exposure for a long time. There’s no reason any of our food—especially food we feed our children—should contain harmful amounts of lead,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.