DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — The Food and Drug Administration is investigating heavy metals found in baby food. The agency issued recalls, that are still in effect, for many products.
“Things that we think that we can trust and rely on, to feed our kids, it’s now becoming really concerning,” Pana mom, Jenna Bland, told WAND News.
When parents open a jar, or pouch, of baby food, they expect it to be safe. But back in October, North Carolina health officials called the FDA about four kids who developed acute lead toxicity after eating WanaBana’s apple cinnamon fruit pouches.
“Learning impairment, behavioral issues, a lot of the things that we already see in our kiddos — it can make that a lot worse,” Dr. Fizza Naqvi, a pediatrician at Crossing Health Care, told WAND News.
These high lead levels can be very dangerous in kids. This is why the FDA issued a recall for several contaminated pouches, and urged parents to throw the product out.
“We’ve really tried to be more cautious about packaged because every time we turn around recently there’s been some type of recall — even down to formula,” Bland explained.
Over the next few months, the FDA discovered over 82 cases of children suffering from high levels of lead from the now-recalled pouches, including five in Illinois.
This image provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2023, shows three recalled applesauce products – WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, Schnucks-brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches and variety pack, and Weis-brand cinnamon applesauce pouches. U.S. food inspectors found “extremely high” lead levels in cinnamon at a plant in Ecuador that made applesauce pouches tainted with the metal. (FDA via AP)
“It’s super concerning as a parent, especially now I’m a mom of two, but even as a first time mom, you’re trying to do everything right and read all these labels,” Bland added.
But heavy metals aren’t listed on the label, and at-home tests aren’t sensitive enough to detect the elements.
Consumer Reports sent dozens of popular items for extensive lab testing, and found high levels of lead, mercury and arsenic.
“The first three years of a child’s life, they’re growing very rapidly, so lead can cause developmental delays and behavior problems,” Dr. Naqvi told WAND News.
Pediatricians said high exposure to lead could lead to stomach and bone issues. Dr. Naqvi said it can even cause autism in children.
“Treatment is really to decrease the exposure of lead, unless the level is really high and they need to be admitted to the hospital,” Dr. Naqvi added.
Now many moms, like Bland, say they’re making their own baby food in the hopes of avoiding contaminated products. But that can be a struggle for working parents juggling multiple children.
“Do I buy this organic? Do I not? Do I make it myself? And it’s like you can barely survive some days just changing diapers — let alone make their food homemade,” Bland said.
Doctors told WAND News, parents should be on the lookout for FDA recalls, and get their child tested if they are worried.
The Macon County Health Department offers lead screenings for families.
“You can come in. We do take limited walk-ins. We do a finger stick, we get results within 3 minutes and we also test the child’s hemoglobin. We test through age 7. So just making sure you’re getting that baseline lead test,” Amber Holthaus, Director of Clinical Nursing Services for the Macon County Health Department, told WAND News.
Right now the FDA does not regulate the level of toxic elements in baby food. the agency is working on a Closer To Zero plan, setting limits for heavy metals in various types of baby food.
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth is working to ensure the FDA has the funding needed to enforce this plan.
“We know that lead has major impacts on child development and health, and it’s clear our nation must do more to get lead out of the food we feed them, whether it’s baby food purées or the applesauce pouches we give to our toddlers,” U.S. Senator Duckworth said in a statement to WAND News.
“I’m working closely with Senator Klobuchar and Reps. Krishnamoorthi and Cárdenas to get FDA the resources it needs for its Closer to Zero program and to push the agency to take additional actions to keep our children safe. Parents deserve to have peace of mind that the baby and toddler food they purchase is safe and nutritious. I’ll keep working to reduce harmful levels of lead and other heavy metals in infant and toddler food.”
The FDA told WAND News its Closer to Zero plan’s goal is to reduce childhood exposure to lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. The agency intends to issue final guidance for lead and draft guidance for arsenic and cadmium in foods intended for babies and young children by the end of this year.
However, the FDA said, until then, it will take action against a food (or manufacturer) that is in violation of the law. The FDA’s recent recent recalls are still in effect.
The FDA released the following statement to WAND News.
“In January 2023, the FDA published draft action levels for lead in foods intended for babies and young children; the FDA has also published draft action levels for lead in juices and final action levels for arsenic in apple juice and in infant rice cereal. As described in the draft guidance, action levels represent the level at which the FDA may regard the food as adulterated because it may be injurious to health. Thus, when the FDA is developing action levels, the FDA considers whether the level of the contaminant in the food may be injurious to health. The FDA draft guidance also describes additional factors for the FDA to consider in developing action levels. In accordance with this guidance, to identify action levels, the FDA goes through a thorough process to understand the levels of contaminants in the food supply, the potential for health risks from dietary exposure to the contaminant, and what levels are feasible for industry to achieve. Following public comment, the FDA evaluates draft action levels to determine if they should be finalized or if the action levels should be adjusted before finalization.”
Families interested in getting their children tested for lead can reach out to their local health department.
“The most common exposure for lead poisoning, and elevated lead testing, is paint sources. So homes built before 1978 are primarily the ones affected by this high lead rate,” Holthaus said.
The Macon County Health Department told WAND News, most cases of lead exposure on central Illinois, come from lead paint in older homes.
“If it’s peeling and chipping, children can get into it either by the lead dust that’s created in the window sills — from being opened and closed — doorways, front porches, peeling and chipping paint on the siding. They ingest it and that causes their lead level to become elevated,” Holthaus added.
MCHD’s lead testing is offered Monday through Thursday 8:30-11:30 and 1-3:30pm.
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