Toxic Lead Lurking in Baby Food? What You Need to Know
The Environmental Defense Fund released a study in June, 2017, showing the presence of detectable levels of lead in a surprising number of baby food samples tested over a decade-long period.
For the study, the EDF evaluated data collected by the FDA between 2003 and 2013. They collected 2,164 baby food samples and found that:
- 89% of grape juice samples contained detectable levels of lead
- 86% of sweet potato samples contained detectable levels of lead
- 47% of teething biscuit samples contained detectable levels of lead
- In total, about 20% of baby food samples were found to contain detectable levels of lead
The group said in the report:
“Eight types of baby foods had detectable lead in more than 40 percent of samples. Baby food versions of apple and grape juices and carrots had more samples with detectable lead than the regular versions.”
Study author Tom Neltner, of the EDF, said:
“The levels we found were relatively low, but when you add them up — with all the foods children eat … it’s significant.”
None of the samples exceeded the FDA’s allowable level of lead, which is good, but does it really matter? Many argue that there is no “safe” level of lead exposure, and the agency is in the process of reviewing its standards over concern that they don’t reflect the latest science about the potential health risks.
Exposure to Lead can be Quite Serious
Lead poisoning in children is extremely serious. It most often occurs when the
Pediatrician Jennifer Lowry, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Environmental Health, said:
“The levels we found were relatively low, but when you add them up — with all the foods children eat … it’s significant.”
She added that the FDA has “old standards… and they haven’t been updated in decades.”
Lead Standards Need Some Updating
In 2012, the CDC updated its guidance on lead in children. Currently, it considers 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood to be high in children. But, again, there is no safe level of lead. In fact, the CDC concluded that:
“Protecting children from exposure to lead is important to lifelong good health. No safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. And effects of lead exposure cannot be corrected.”
Pediatricians say children should eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, as this helps minimize the risk from a single food. Additionally, a diet high in iron, calcium, and vitamin C can limit the absorption of lead.
The problem of lead in grape juice is easy solvable: the American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommended that children under 1 should not drink any juice, and fruit juice for children of any age is unnecessary. Whole fruit is better, nutritionally.
What is unclear is how lead got into the products tested. If it comes from the soil, it can be absorbed by crops. If that’s the case, the lead “cannot simply be removed,” the FDA says in one of its fact sheets. But that’s worrisome, because the veggies contained the highest levels of lead.
The Environmental Defense Fund writes:
“Eight types of baby foods had detectable lead in more than 40 percent of samples. Baby food versions of apple and grape juices and carrots had more samples with detectable lead than the regular versions.”
Just 4% of the baby cereals contained lead.
Sarah Vogel, vice president of EDF’s health program, said:
“The only thing parents can do right now is to reach out to their favorite brands and ask them what they are doing (to ensure products are lead-free).”
Lead paint is the #1 source of lead exposure in children, followed by water, then food.
The city of Flint, Michigan, has been wrestling with extremely high lead levels in its drinking water for nearly 2 years now, and in 2015 a state of emergency was declared over high levels of lead in children’s blood. However, in the case of Flint, the high lead levels occurred after the city switched its water source, which corroded pipes.
It’s clear that we need to tackle this issue on a larger scale to reduce exposure to this toxic
Sources:
[1] NPR
[2] NBC News
