Toxic Metals Detected in 41 Baby Formulas—Nearly Half at Risk

[{"selector":"#anim-0da54778-2b6c-4f52-9120-3bd92ba1d92e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36d1bd0e-04c4-46aa-95cc-57bb6a137696","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.9394%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52bac27b-9107-4fdd-884d-135f945cbd5b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5afd7da9-5afc-4c12-9ab3-6ac3162db2b7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Toxic Metals Detected in 41 Baby Formulas—Nearly Half at Risk Tejal Somvanshi

Nearly half of baby formulas tested by Consumer Reports contained dangerous levels of heavy metals like arsenic and lead, raising serious health concerns for infants.

[{"selector":"#anim-f49fd60a-a7b6-49b8-be8b-446dcc9630bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8878702-53e2-4be2-92bf-e4216b6915c4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c5bcd1d-6790-43f7-9200-5911528f4d40","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-232f5b34-b2b1-4565-aea1-a9a430585aa2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77cb5fab-65a0-467d-909d-b901e3db664e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - QUT Media (Flickr)

The highest arsenic levels were found in EleCare Hypoallergenic and Similac Alimentum, both made by Abbott Nutrition—the company behind the 2022 formula shortage crisis.

[{"selector":"#anim-d05ed13d-ead3-4dc4-8efc-caa9f1fa80af","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e756b3a-7516-4040-a4d8-c2cfea14164a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.34928%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9dff8ee0-e96d-4e08-8bfd-f40bcd27f492","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b5db3ee-a629-4a35-89aa-11fc25fa3a48","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf4802ea-abf2-4b1d-a1cc-7ae3640df2d9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - your_handbbag_lady (Flickr)

"There is no excuse for having arsenic in baby food or formula," warns Dr. David Carpenter, calling for immediate industry action to remove these neurotoxins.

[{"selector":"#anim-20abf0c6-7a40-4eb6-af45-e6365107b141","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25d80ca2-9e8d-42c6-9816-45665005c31e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.58885%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-535a3086-68d6-4a8e-95a3-454077f2d973","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ad2b0b7-0c34-495f-b0be-d72cf9a888fd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9bb9a774-e9de-4e8b-b487-5baf4b3311d8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - Rakesh B Pherwani (Flickr)

Heavy metals in baby formula can cause developmental delays, reduced IQ, behavioral problems, and increased cancer risk—with infants being especially vulnerable.

[{"selector":"#anim-d2dc24fb-1324-4649-85e9-fe8c0ff58260","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b47243a-5091-4cf5-9f10-d9171e911741","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.724%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56ec7922-1ce6-4d70-92f1-6f6a63ee76df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6c93e96-f4c2-44c4-b457-185a49c5a95e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c48aa833-7037-44cb-92c9-1ab9b176a85b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - Direct Relief (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

In response to these alarming findings, "Operation Stork Speed" has been launched to boost testing and regulation of baby formula manufacturing.

[{"selector":"#anim-c10f7156-8855-440f-a2bc-92438af0dd33","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2392283-410f-4b63-9d62-17ad97396c59","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4cdbfeb9-7fd5-4eee-a950-c76fca5aa91c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-27b5927f-1679-4084-aeef-0cada1ec41b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-85cbcab7-6958-4d57-9bf9-f4726447d282","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - Tamilnadutest House (Flickr)

Not all news is bad—Consumer Reports found 21 "top choice" formulas with minimal contamination, including popular brands like Similac Advance and Enfamil Gentleease.

[{"selector":"#anim-1cb72fbc-5ee6-44c8-a0b6-9eb1b3e7af72","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8596f492-8f45-40b7-acb3-90640b523984","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.34928%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8544e345-76c1-42a1-bfb1-6eae78e04283","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5954a4a-0f80-42e8-bf75-289a987d02e5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-569db806-8f1d-49f4-8b00-e62c2817705b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - Joe Shlabotnik (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Former FDA commissioner Peter Pitts argues that baby formula needs the same rigorous oversight as drugs: "If we want to have options, all those options should be safe."

[{"selector":"#anim-4c592fac-2f5e-410d-b08b-0b8b74edb9ae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f23f9b7c-cccc-4ee2-b3e3-3d565e8441d1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 121.63088%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e0b3117-61f9-49c1-8038-84b53e671904","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02b8f22d-d213-48e2-952a-54380edbc006","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-80ef1d24-6fa6-45c7-bc2e-b6258ff52b31","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - USAID U.S Agency for International Development (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Industry giants defend their products, with Abbott claiming "multi-step quality processes" and Mead Johnson pointing to "120 years" of parent and pediatrician trust.

[{"selector":"#anim-d6b41447-78f6-4e52-ade3-a3cd57521624","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00e7716d-c28b-46cd-b6ec-c6ff6beb6c58","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.36915%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84954360-b7df-4f70-ad5a-6f9168622899","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df60ce2a-ded2-422c-94c7-98fddf1210dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b872a16-0169-49c5-9c5a-5f9653b89151","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source - Baby Care (CCO 1.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-937543ce-0d79-4282-908a-5bfb7ab5a506","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef445363-e4ff-4ae6-b308-ad17a5dac6f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f24a581-4910-4b93-a98f-abd2354068e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38f9dcad-7df5-4ee9-8a2a-6755ccdb5a91","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-53a85c89-dcc7-47c7-bab9-a7e2d59a1f6a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.2381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] India's Obesity Epidemic: 440 Million by 2050 Learn more