Are the heavy metals found in baby foods dangerous?
Have you been hearing a lot about heavy metals in baby foods lately??
This discussion of what to feed your baby has sparked interest due to the congressional investigation which was released last week regarding the “dangerous levels” of toxic metals like arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury which were found in certain baby food brands.
Before we dive into this conversation, we want parents to NOT PANIC!!!
Don’t read the headline and jump to conclusions before understanding that this is a complex topic.
Science is a CONSTANT STATE OF INQUIRY!
As science and technology advances, we find out new information daily! What we know now, our parents didn’t know! We have come so far and still have a long way to go!
When you hear news like this, make sure that you are:
Not feeling guilty about the choices you have made up until now. We only want the best for our children and as we find out more information, we will continue to make adjustments in our life!
So the fact that you are reading and inquiring deserves applause so keep investigating and refining but not take news like this as additional stressor.
Realizing that this is one piece of a much bigger puzzle and more research has yet to be done!
Instead of panicking that we are doing the wrong things or feeling guilty, we should try looking at this inquiry as a positive that more research will follow on what should be in the foods we are feeding our kids!
Here some things to consider:
Heavy metals are found in nature all around. Even if we were feeding our kids only fresh vegetables and fruits, fresh meats, and fish from the sea, we would have trace amounts of heavy metals since they are found in water and soil!
This study did not compare the heavy metal quantity in natural foods. This all varies based on our source of foods, the areas in which we live, the amount of industrial pollution and pesticides in crops, how they are processed and prepared, and which foods we choose for our kids
So while this is of concern that there are trace amount of heavy metal in processed baby foods, we don’t know how much is in the food we would prepare if we picked foods from our gardens and fed those to our babies
The US Food and Drug Administration has not yet set minimum levels for heavy metals in most infant food. The agency did set a standard of 100 parts per billion inorganic arsenic for infant rice cereal, but even that level is considered too high for baby's safety, especially since the FDA has already set a much lower standard of 10 parts per billion of inorganic arsenic for bottled water.
So what does all this mean until we have more information and clarity?
Do the best you can within your means to introduce your babies to a VARIETY of foods starting at the age of 4-6 months
Rice cereal is not required and generally empty calories for the child. It is ok to introduce rice and grains in different ways but remember to wash your rice well to reduce arsenic exposure and try a variety of other grains like oats, barley, and quinoa.
When you are able to, the least processed foods that are washed well is the best. Too much of one vegetable or fruit is not ideal. VARIETY, VARIETY, VARIETY, and BALANCE is KEY to avoid getting too much of one type of mineral or toxin
Be mindful of lead exposure in your house like old pipes, peeling paint, and old homes/renovations. Be aware of lead exposure in your water and communities. Speak to your pediatrician about lead if you are concerned and usually your doctor will screen your toddler for lead levels.
Toxins are all around, literally and figuratively. Use headlines in the news as an opportunity to learn and adapt and not panic about the choices you have made in the past because you are doing a great job overall!
Follow along with your PediPals for more!
Below you can find a link to the congressional hearing, the study, and the results.
Your PediPals