Heavy Metals in Baby Food & Formula

SHARE

Reports of heavy metals in baby foods, formula, and fruit juices have been featured in news headlines across the United States, leaving families concerned about the health and safety of their children (see We Tested 41 Baby Formulas for Lead and Arsenic – Consumer Reports, March 2025; Baby Food Makers are Failing California’s Lead Standards, Reuters Review Shows, April 2025). Find strategies below to reduce your family’s exposure to heavy metals. 

Many common baby foods, formula, and fruit juices contain small amounts of heavy metals such as lead and arsenic.  

The low levels of metals found in food are likely a small part of a child’s overall exposure to metals; however, a child’s total metal exposure from all sources can pose a risk to health- particularly brain development.  

The Good News: Parents can reduce heavy metals in their child’s diet with simple steps such as feeding them a variety of foods, limiting rice-based products and fruit juices, and researching what testing has been done for heavy metals in their baby’s formula ahead of time.  

In Your Environment

What is a Heavy Metal?

A heavy metal is a kind of chemical element – such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. 

Why are Heavy Metals Found in Some Baby Foods, Formula and Fruit Juices?

Heavy metals can occur naturally in soil used to grow food, or can get into food through pesticides, industrial processing, and storage. This can lead to small amounts of heavy metals in some baby food products such as rice-based foods, vegetables (e.g., sweet potatoes), formula and fruit juices. 

What to Look For

How Can Heavy Metal Exposure Affect Brain Development in Children?

Brain development and IQ depend on many factors including genetics, nutrition, the child’s social environment, and environmental exposures. Heavy metal exposure is just one of these factors. Heavy metal exposure can interfere with learning, attention, and behavior. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to the effects of heavy metals because their brains are rapidly developing. The levels of metals found in food are likely a small part of a child’s overall exposure to metals; however, a child’s total metal exposure from all sources can pose a risk to health. 

Actions to Take

My Child Has Consumed Some of the Baby Food Products Identified as Containing Heavy Metals. Should I Have My Child Tested for Heavy Metals? 

We do not recommend heavy metal testing for children based on baby food consumption. Lead screening is part of routine well child care. See our Lead page for Families & Communities to learn more about testing/screening. The most important step is to reduce your child’s exposure to heavy metals from common sources. 

What are Some Simple Steps to Reduce a Child’s Exposure to Heavy Metals?  
  • Lead: The most common source of lead exposure is peeling paint in homes built before 1978. Other sources include some imported spices and cosmetics, water, and some hobbies/occupations. See our Lead page for Families & Communities to learn more. 
  • Mercury: The most common source of mercury exposure is large predator fish. Since fish are an important part of a healthy diet, eat fish but choose wisely to limit mercury. For children age 1 and older, the FDA recommends 2 servings of fish per week from “Best Choices” list of low-mercury fish. 
  • Arsenic: To reduce arsenic in your child’s diet, limit consumption of rice-based foods. If you have well water, ask your local health department if arsenic testing is needed (arsenic can be present in the soil in some areas and can get into well water). 

Examples of Simple Steps to Reduce Heavy Metals from Common Baby Food Products:

Instead of…Try this…
Rice snacks and puffsWhole or pureed fresh fruits and vegetables, or rice-free snacks
Rice cerealA variety of grains and cereals, such as whole grains, oats, multi-grain, barley
Rice-base teething biscuits or rusksA damp washcloth that has been twisted and frozen (tie one end in a knot), massage sore areas with a clean finger
Fruit juiceBabies under 6 months old: breastmilk or formula only
Babies 6 to 12 months old: breastmilk or formula, small amounts of water may be given as they learn to use a cup
Children 12 months old and above: milk and water
Brown riceWhite rice (which has less arsenic than brown). White basmati or sushi rice tends to have the lowest levels of arsenic. Rince rice before cooking and cook in extra water (i.e. 1 cup of rice to 6 cups of water). Consider alternating rice with other grains that are lower in arsenic like grits, barley, farro, and bulgur.

 Overall, provide a diet rich in a variety of whole or pureed fruits and vegetables (was thoroughly with cold water first), lean proteins, and a variety of grains.

What is Being Done to Reduce the Presence of Heavy Metals in Baby Food and Formula?
  • Healthy Babies Bright Futures is a coalition of scientists, health professionals, and community-based organizations working together to support programs and policies that will reduce children’s exposure to contaminants.  
  • The FDA has the ability to set strict enforceable guidelines to limit levels of heavy metals in baby food. In March 2025, they announced plans to conduct a comprehensive review of infant formula for the first time since 1998.
  • If you have specific questions or concerns and want to speak to someone, contact your regional PEHSU. 

Content adapted from PEHSU Region 2.

Contact Your Region – find your regional PEHSU experts to contact them for more information about the health effects of heavy metals in baby food and formula.