Dive Brief:
- About 30% of baby food tested by the Food and Drug Administration between 2014 and 2016 had some amount of lead detected, according to a study released Monday by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Lead was also found in almost 27% of other food.
- The FDA switched to a new, more sensitive analytical method in 2014. Despite the higher reported levels of lead, there was a significant drop in the averages in 2016.
- Using the new testing method, 93% of baby food teething biscuits, sweet potatoes, arrowroot cookies and carrots had detectable lead levels. In addition, the studies found lead in 63% of grape, 36% of pear, and 9% of apple baby food juices.
Dive Insight:
There is good news and bad news to come out of the study released by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).
The good news is that the overall trends for detectable rates of lead in baby food, especially in 2016, appears to be on the decline. The bad news is that teething biscuits, arrowroot cookies and baby food made with carrots and sweet potatoes continue to have high rates of lead detection.
EDF didn't look at brands or products, the amount of lead in specific samples or how it might have gotten there. As opposed to calling out one brand, it’s addressing the food and beverage industries to improve their lead testing on the whole. The study reiterates there is no safe amount of lead in food, especially for babies.
No specific reason is offered as to why lead levels have gone down recently. There is the possibility that farming techniques have improved, to limit the amount of lead absorbed by plants as they grow. Manufacturers could also be modifying their processes to avoid lead leaching into food from older food handling equipment or from deteriorated lead paint in the building.
As consumers are increasingly concerned about what’s in their food and how it’s made, any detectable lead level would likely be viewed as unacceptable if it were public knowledge.
The new testing method found lead in 29.3% of baby food, and 26.9% of other food. Forty one of 44 composite samples (93%) of baby food teething biscuits, sweet potatoes, arrowroot cookies, and carrots had detectable lead levels. Improved testing by manufacturers, and vigilance to reduce these lead levels, would be a good place to start to tackle the issue.
Consumer'’s desire for healthier options has driven tremendous growth in the organic baby food market. It's crowded with players like Gerber, Ella's Kitchen, Sprout, Happy Baby, Earth's Best and Campbell's Plum Organics and new startup Once Upon a Farm jockeying for space. However, as the EDF doesn't specify which brands had high lead levels, there is likely to be confusion among consumers.
While the FDA does screen for lead levels in food and beverages, it hasn't been behind any major recalls recently. In July, a New York importer recalled an undisclosed amount of ground cumin contaminated with lead. However, the FDA didn't detect these lead levels. The contamination was discovered during routine checks by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspector.