Heavy Metals in Baby Food:
Here’s What You Need to Know
Heavy metals have a real impact on our babies developing brains and IQ. This is obviously scary news for parents everywhere, so we wanted to share some helpful information to help ensure your child’s safety.
Heavy metals commonly find their way into baby food in a few ways:
1. Heavy metals are naturally found in earth’s soil, but can be found in higher levels where agricultural conditions are less regulated. Transparency on sourced ingredients is critical.
2. Metals commonly make their way into grocery-brand food as a result of lengthy processing and commercial sterilization. Machinery coated with brass, bronze or plastic can expel toxins into food.
3. This study revealed the presence of perchlorate, a neurotoxic pollutant that, even in trace amounts, has a negative impact on a child’s developing brain. This pollutant, found in 19/25 samples, is used as a cleaning agent on heavy machinery.
What Can We Do As Parents?
Go Fresh
Cook yourself, or choose food that produces in small batches just like homemade and is not subjected to heavy and extensive processing. This will reduce the unnecessary exposure to heavy metals beyond what is naturally occurring in produce.
Ensure variety
Some produce, such as carrots and sweet potatoes, have naturally occurring higher levels of heavy metals than other produce. While these foods are healthy and an important part of every child’s diet, ensuring a varied diet with other fruits and vegetables can decrease risk.
Skip the Rice Cereal
Rice cereals are rich in inorganic arsenic and heavy metals and are not necessary for the starting solids journey. Opt instead for a clean, organic Iron supplement such as Wiz Kid, which is made up of Iron, Vitamin E and Omega-3 DHA.
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