Heavy Metals in Baby Food: What Parents Need to Know

Prenatal and postnatal heavy metal exposure can harm infant brain development because heavy metals are neurotoxic. Common heavy metals that may find their way into food include arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium.

Research has shown that toxic metal exposure may increase the risk of behavioral and learning problems. Some lawsuits claim that disorders caused by heavy metals include autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

However, if you fed your child any of the baby foods named in the claims, you don’t necessarily need to panic. Healthychildren.org, which is run by the American Academy of Pediatrics, states that the heavy metals in baby food “likely are a relatively small part of a child’s overall toxic metal exposure risk.” The site also notes that challenges linked to heavy metal exposure are influenced by a variety of social, environmental and genetic factors.

Several baby food brands tested positive for high levels of heavy metals in a government investigation. They were manufactured by Walmart, Nurture, Beech-Nut, Hain, Gerber, Campbell Soup Company and Sprout Foods, Inc.

Initially, Walmart, Campbell and Sprout Organic Foods refused to cooperate with the government’s investigation. In the first published report, the Subcommittee suggested that those companies were hiding even higher levels of metals in their products compared to their competitors.

A few months after the government published its initial report, the three companies provided some information. The Subcommittee revealed the details in a second report, stating that the companies reported high levels of metals in their products or a lack of proper attention to their heavy metal testing. Walmart even stated that it had stopped following its protective standards.

Unfortunately, that same report stated that additional companies had heavy metal-related problems with their baby food. Beech-Nut voluntarily recalled some foods because Alaskan public health officials discovered heavy metals in them. But it turned out that Beech-Nut’s recall wasn’t widespread enough, and some foods containing dangerous levels of arsenic were still on the market. Further, Gerber, which the Alaskan officials had flagged for the same element, hadn’t taken any action.

It would turn out that arsenic wasn’t the only heavy metal in baby food, though.

The government provided the testing results in a 2021 report and found several brands of commercial baby food had levels of arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium that were much higher than the recommended amount for food safety and child safety.

The FDA has set the safe levels of metals in bottled water for arsenic at 10 parts per billion (ppb), lead at 5 ppb and cadmium at 5 ppb. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limited the amount of mercury in drinking water to 2 ppb.

All the products tested contained high levels of arsenic, lead and cadmium. Only one of the responding companies, Nurture, even tested its products for mercury. It found its baby food contained mercury levels higher than the FDA’s recommended amount.

Three companies have recalled baby food for high levels of heavy metals: Beech-Nut, Target and Publix.

In response to the problem of high heavy metals in baby food, the FDA launched Closer to Zero, a program intended to reduce the amount of heavy metal contamination in baby food.

Closer to Zero involves looking at available science, working with experts and stakeholders such as baby food companies and finalizing its guidance and actions for the industry.

For example, one of the finalized action plans is for lead in baby food ingredients and products. It limits lead to 10 ppb for fruits, vegetables, yogurts, custards and single-ingredient meats.

You can check the progress of Closer to Zero on the FDA’s website.

Studies have shown mixed results regarding the link between ASD and heavy metals, but there is more evidence connecting heavy metals to ADHD.

One study found a link between heightened levels of heavy metals in the blood and hair of children with ASD worldwide. However, researchers found that the opposite was true in North America. The researchers also said that people with ASD have a harder time getting heavy metals out of their bodies altogether, so that could account for the heightened levels in their hair and blood, but not urine.

A meta-analysis of literature relating to cadmium and mercury levels in those with ASD discovered that studies showed different results. The researchers hypothesized that the methodologies used could account for the differences.

There is more evidence for ADHD having a connection to heavy metals. For instance, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a study stating that about 20% of ADHD cases in the U.S. have been associated with exposure to lead. The study also mentions that food and water contaminated with lead should be avoided, though many other environmental factors are also mentioned.

Another study, this one from Environmental Research, found that increased blood levels of lead are associated with a higher risk of developing ADHD — though it showed no connection between ADHD and mercury or cadmium.

However, the study was done between 2007 and 2009 in Omaha, NE. Omaha had been home to a lead refinery for 100 years. The refinery had closed only 10 years before the study occurred. Researchers concluded that being near a hazardous waste site likely played a role in the connection.

In 2021, as part of the discussion surrounding baby and toddler food, the FDA stated that while heavy metal exposure should be avoided as much as possible, they “want to reassure parents and caregivers that at the levels we have found through our testing, children are not at an immediate health risk from exposure to toxic elements in foods.”

However, in 2021, there wouldn’t have been enough time to tell if there were long-term consequences from eating the food.

Children exposed to heavy metals may have permanent decreases in IQ, an increased risk for antisocial behavior and even depression. Studies have also linked heavy metal exposure in the womb and at an early age to an increased risk of violent and criminal behavior.

While the FDA is working on stronger rules and regulations for heavy metals in baby food, parents and caregivers can take action to help reduce their child’s exposure to these toxic substances.

A 2025 law in California aims to make checking labels easier for parents. The law requires baby food manufacturers to test samples of infant and toddler food for arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium.

The test must be done once a month, and consumers can scan a QR code on packaging to see the results.

If you believe your child’s ADHD or ASD diagnosis could be connected to one of the baby foods listed on this page, you may be able to file a toxic baby food lawsuit against its manufacturers.

Consumer Notice can match you up with a toxic baby food attorney free of charge. You have no obligation to sign up, and it doesn’t cost you anything to learn about your legal options. You can fill out a form or call the number on the page for faster service.