Latest Industry News

A recent report by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) has revealed that the French population, including young children, is overexposed to concerning levels of cadmium through food. Cadmium is a toxic metal that is naturally present in the environment but its presence is increased by human activities. Prolonged exposure to cadmium can be carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic to reproduction, leading to kidney damage and bone fragility.

Food is identified as the primary source of exposure, accounting for up to 98% in non-smokers, with contaminated items including breakfast cereals, breads, pasta, rice, potatoes, and certain vegetables. For smokers, smoking and vaping are additional significant sources. To mitigate this risk, ANSES advocates for action “at the source” of food contamination, specifically targeting agricultural soils and fertilizers. They reiterate a 2019 recommendation to reduce the maximum cadmium content in phosphate mineral fertilizers to 20mg per kilogramme, down from current limits of 90mg in France and 60mg in the European Union. ANSES warns that without immediate action, long-term adverse health effects are probable for a growing segment of the population.

A recent survey by the Pew Charitable Trusts reveals that over 70% of American adults are concerned about exposure to toxic chemicals in their food and drinking water. An overwhelming 5 out of 6 adults believe the federal government and industry need to do more to protect them from these harmful substances. This concern cuts across age and political affiliations, with significant majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and unaffiliated individuals agreeing that government efforts on chemical safety are insufficient.

The article highlights growing concerns about various contaminants, including flame retardants, heavy metals, pesticides, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA and phthalates. These chemicals have been linked to serious health issues, from developmental problems in children to chronic diseases in adults. The survey results underscore a strong public demand for increased regulation and proactive measures to identify and control harmful chemicals in everyday products.

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a Texas couple, Sarah and Grant Palmquist, can proceed with their lawsuit against Whole Foods in state court. The couple alleges that Earth’s Best Organic baby food, manufactured by Hain Celestial Group and purchased at Whole Foods, caused their son to develop seizures and autism spectrum disorder due to toxic heavy metal poisoning.

Their claims cite a 2021 House Oversight Committee report that identified high levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury in several commercial baby food brands. While a federal judge previously dismissed the case after a jury trial, finding the scientific link between the food and the boy’s health issues unsupported, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit later ruled that the trial court erred in removing Whole Foods from the litigation.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for the Court, affirmed that the couple correctly exercised their right to pursue the case in state court. Despite Hain Celestial Group’s arguments that the jurisdictional shift wasted judicial resources, the Supreme Court’s decision effectively sends the case back to state court to begin the legal process anew.

Illinois has become the fourth state to enact legislation requiring baby food manufacturers to test their products for toxic heavy metals and publicly disclose the results. This new law follows similar measures in California, Maryland (Rudy’s Law), and Virginia (the Baby Food Protection Act), with the latter two becoming effective in January 2026.

The Illinois law, known as the Toxic Elements in Baby Food Act, mandates that manufacturers test for inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. The legislation also requires the results to be made available on the manufacturers’ websites.

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed “action levels” under its “Closer to Zero” plan for these contaminants, these levels are not yet finalized. FDA action levels serve as a regulatory tool to encourage manufacturers to reduce contaminant levels, and though not legally binding, they can be referenced in enforcement actions if food products contain unsafe levels of toxic elements. The state-level initiatives underscore a growing demand for greater transparency and stricter controls on heavy metals in baby food.

Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into major baby food manufacturers, including Gerber and Plum Organics, for potentially violating the law by deceptively advertising and selling products containing dangerous levels of heavy metals. The investigation, announced on August 26, 2025, will involve issuing Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) to these companies, with plans to send additional CIDs as the inquiry progresses.

Paxton’s office highlights that heavy metals such as Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury are known to cause brain damage in young children. Despite this risk, many U.S. baby food manufacturers have allegedly set their internal standards for these toxic elements at unsafe levels and have misrepresented the health benefits of their products. Attorney General Paxton stated that no parent should have to worry about dangerous heavy metals in their children’s food and vowed to fight for justice for any parents misled by deceptive practices.

Consumer Reports and Unleaded Kids conducted a joint investigation, rating baby food brands on their compliance with California’s AB 899 law, which mandates monthly testing for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, and public disclosure of these results. The report, released August 7, 2025, found that while some brands are making strides toward transparency, the industry as a whole has much progress to make in providing easily accessible and meaningful comparative information to consumers.

Sixteen brands, including Earth’s Best, Once Upon a Farm, and Plum Organics, received top scores for straightforward access to test results. Twenty-one brands were rated lower for requiring parents to input lot numbers or UPCs, making access difficult. Two brands, Loco Bebé and Piko Provisions, had no publicly accessible test results.

Consumer Reports urges parents to seek transparent companies, look for the lowest possible levels of toxic elements, and consider multi-ingredient blends. They also note that “not detected” doesn’t mean zero, and homemade baby food may not necessarily be safer. The organization has launched a petition calling on major retailers and baby food makers to improve access to heavy metal test results.