The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced voluntary guidelines on the level of lead content in processed baby foods sold in the country.
Under the new guidelines, baby food manufacturers operating in the US are advised to limit lead content to ten parts per billion (ppb) in products such as yogurts, custards, puddings, single-ingredient meats, and processed fruits and vegetables.
For root vegetables such as carrots and sweet potatoes, and dry infant cereals, the limit is set at 20ppb.
The guidelines, first proposed in January 2023, apply to packaged foods for children under two years old, including ready-to-eat and semi-prepared foods in jars, pouches, tubs, or boxes.
The FDA’s action, serving only as non-enforceable guidance, has been criticised by the NGO Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) as insufficient.
The presence of heavy metals in baby food has been linked to health concerns. According to the World Health Organization, there is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects.
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The FDA acknowledged that eliminating lead from the environment and food supply is not feasible as the heavy metal is “widely present in the environment due to both its natural occurrence and to human activities” but said “setting action levels like those in the guidance can help lower levels of contaminants in foods”.
The regulator added: “Though not binding, these action levels are intended to encourage manufacturers to maintain lead levels in processed food intended for babies and young children below the action levels, thus reducing risks associated with dietary lead exposures.”
Thomas Galligan, principal scientist for additives and supplements at CSPI, described the guidelines as a “step forward and will help protect children” but added: “The agency took too long to act and ignored important public input that could have strengthened these standards.
“The levels finalised today are unchanged from those proposed two years ago, and FDA seemingly did not revise its approach, leading us to question whether FDA has done enough to maximise protections for children.”
