Worse, despite public outcry over their heavy metal content, the companies mentioned in the 2021 Congressional Reports refused to issue any baby food recall on their products. (4) For baby food safety in the future, lawmakers and parents are putting pressure on the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to create stricter measures for baby food manufacturers. (5) They’re calling for the FDA to require baby food companies to test finished products for heavy metals, especially those just testing the raw materials. (5)
HappyTOT Recalls
These are the only product recalls that Nurture Inc. has issued on HappyTOT products. None have been issued concerning the Congressional Reports:
HappyTOT Super Foods Gluten-Free Oat Bars Recall (2020)
On November 3, 2020, Nurture Inc. issued a voluntary recall on several products, citing consumer complaints of the bars containing mold. (6) According to the baby food company, these bars were produced with higher water content. The increased moisture level made them susceptible to mold growth. (6) Due to the remote possibility of the high-moisture bars causing adverse health consequences, Nurture Inc. decided to recall them. The following lot codes of HappyTOT Super Foods Gluten-Free Oat Bars were affected by the recall. All these products are Organic Blueberries and Oatmeal, with UPC 8 19573 01507 2: (6)
BB 07 APR 2021 20098 BB 08 APR 2021 20099 BB 09 APR 2021 20100 BB 18 MAY 2021 20139 BB 19 MAY 2021 20140 BB 16 JUN 2021 20168 BB 28 AUG 2021 20241
These are the lot codes for the HappyTOT Super Foods Gluten-Free Oat Bars (Organic Bananas, Strawberries, and Sunflower Butter; with UPC 8 19573 01508 9) included in the recall: (6)
BB 13 APR 2021 20104 BB 08 MAY 2021 20129 BB 20 MAY 2021 20141 BB 21 MAY 2021 20142 BB 08 JUN 2021 20160 BB 09 JUN 2021 20161 BB 15 JUN 2021 20167
Aside from these HappyTOT products, the recall also included HappyKID Fruit & Oat Bar (Blueberry + Raspberry) with the following lot codes: (6)
BB 14 APR 2021 20105 BB 05 MAY 2021 20126 BB 11 MAY 2021 20132 BB 01 JUN 2021 20153 BB 08 JUN 2021 20190 BB 13 JUL 2021 20195 BB 04 AUG 2021 20217
You can find these lot codes and expiry dates at the back of the pouches, printed near the edge. If your child has consumed the recalled product and is not feeling well, Nurture Inc. recommends consulting with a physician. But they assured affected customers that the recalled products have a low risk of causing any adverse effects: (6) If you purchased any of the products from the affected lots, you can contact the Customer Service team at 855-644-HAPPY (42779) or [email protected] for a refund or replacement coupon. You may also return the product directly to the retail outlet. Nevertheless, it does not reflect the high standards we hold for our products and is not an experience we want our families to have.” To make sure that a similar incident won’t happen again in the future, the company claims that they have implemented tighter measures to monitor the water activity for every batch of bars that they bake. (6)
Are Happy TOT Pouches Recalled?
Responding to consumer complaints about swollen or leaking baby food pouches of different HappyBABY and HappyTOTproducts, the FDA issued a public warning over the serious food safety problem. (7) The compromised packaging is at risk of bacterial contamination, which could cause serious medical issues, including severe vomiting and nausea if ingested. The FDA warned the public from consuming any of the products that are swollen or leaking. Store employees and anyone who handled the contaminated products were advised to wash their hands thoroughly. (7) In response to the FDA’s safety warning, Nurture Inc. issued a recall on the following baby food pouches from HappyTOTStage 4, with expiration dates from November 2010 to January 2011: (7)
Green bean, pear & peas, net wt. 4.22 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00127 9 Sweet potato, carrot, apple & cinnamon, net wt. 4.22 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00128 6 Spinach, mango & pear, net wt. 4.22 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00129 3 Butternut squash & apple, net wt. 4.22 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00130 9 Banana, peach, coconut & prunes, net wt. 4.22 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00131 6 Banana, peach & mango, net wt. 4.22 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00132 3
Is Happy Baby Recalled?
These food pouches from HappyBABY Stages 1 and 2 (expiration dates from November 2010 to January 2011) were also recalled: (7)
Mango, net wt. 3.5 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00134 7 Spinach Mango Pear, net wt. 3.5 oz.- UPC 8 52697 00139 2 Apricot Sweet Potato, net wt. 3.5 oz. – UPC 8 52697
No other baby food products were affected by this recall. (7)
Happy Family Organics In The Congressional Report On Baby Food Safety
First Subcommittee Congressional Report
Heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium can harm your baby’s brain and body development, even at low concentrations. (1)(2) In February 2021, the US Congress Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy released a detailed Congressional Report on toxic products from several baby food manufacturers. (3) What’s alarming is that many of these baby foods are from popular name brands, according to a detailed Congressional Report in February 2021: (3)
Nurture, Inc. (HappyBABY and HappyTOT) Beech-Nut Nutrition Company (Beech-Nut) Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (Earth’s Best Organic) Gerber Campbell Soup Company (Plum Organics) Walmart Inc. (Parent’s Choice) Sprout Foods, Inc. (Sprout Organic Foods)
The companies reportedly knew that their ingredients have toxic elements, but they adjusted their internal standards so their tests “passed.” The tainted products were sold to unsuspecting customers. (3) These popular name brands are well-known for their baby foods, but all have dangerously high levels of toxic elements, particularly arsenic. (3) Of the seven baby food makers mentioned in the Congressional Report, only four provided the Subcommittee with their internal testing policies (for heavy metals) and test results: (3)
Gerber Beech-Nut Nurture Hain
But even with the quick response, the Subcommittee was alarmed to receive confirmation that these companies’ products truly contained dangerous levels of heavy metals. (3) The baby food manufacturers have different policies but created internal standards that have maximum limits several times higher than existing government regulations on other food products. The FDA maximum limit for infant rice cereal is 100 ppb (parts per billion) inorganic arsenic. (8) But these companies set their internal limits several times higher than the federal regulation: (3)
Beech-Nut (arsenic): 3,000 ppb Nurture (arsenic): 115 ppb Hain (arsenic): 200 ppb
The FDA’s maximum limits for bottled water are as follows: (8)
5 ppb cadmium 5 ppb lead 10 ppb inorganic arsenic
Instead of complying with these regulations or creating internal standards near these values, the following companies increased theirs to much higher levels: (3)
Beech-Nut (cadmium): 3,000 ppb Beech-Nut (lead): 5,000 ppb Hain (cadmium): 200 ppb Hain (lead): 200 ppb
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) maximum limit for drinking water (but may also apply to food) is 2 ppb mercury. (9)
Nurture, Inc. (HappyBABY, HappyTOTS, And Happy Family Organics)
While the other baby food makers only tested their raw materials and ingredients for heavy metal content, Nurture actually tested both ingredients and finished products. (3) Yet this didn’t clear them in the Congressional Report. (3) The Subcommittee was alarmed that Nurture knew that their products have high levels of toxic heavy metals, yet they continued to release these for little ones to eat. (3) According to the report, Nurture admitted that though they test their finished products, the results aren’t used as a basis for product release. So, the company released all products to the market, including those that exceeded the heavy metal maximum limits. (3) Is Happy TOT safe? These are the test results that the company submitted: (3) Inorganic Arsenic:
Up to 100 ppb (more than 25% of Nurture baby products) Up to 160 ppb (variant: Strawberry & Beet Puffs) Up to 160 ppb (variant: Banana & Pumpkin Puffs) Up to 180 ppb (variant: Apple & Broccoli Puffs)
Mercury:
Up to 9.8 ppb (variant: Banana Sweet Potato) Up to 10 ppb (variant: Brown Rice Cereal Canister)
Lead:
Up to 10 ppb (variant: Nurture vegetables and rice products) Up to 560 ppb (variant: Multi-Grain Cereal Canister) Up to 641 ppb (variant: Blueberry Purple Carrot)
Cadmium:
Up to 5 ppb (around 65% of Nurture products) Up to 36 ppb (variant: Strawberry Raspberry) Up to 49 ppb (variant: Multi-Grain Cereal Canister)
Second Congressional Report
In a new report released in September 2021, the Subcommittee announced that the state of Alaska tested the baby food products from the report independently. The results showed that these companies continued to produce and release products with dangerously high levels of inorganic arsenic. (3)(4) The Subcommittee Report also pointed out that these baby food companies failed to recall the tainted products or notify the public of their heavy metal content. (4)
Lawsuit Against HappyTOT For Heavy Metal Content
Last June 2021, the Ecological Alliance LLC in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit against Happy Family Organics parent company Nurture Inc. for making two products allegedly containing dangerous levels of lead: (10)
HappyTOT cheese and spinach ravioli product HappyTOT apple and spinach fruit snack bar
The lawsuit alleges that cheese and spinach ravioli has over 12 times the daily maximum amount of lead exposure for a child, while the snack bar has “higher-than-acceptable” lead content. (10) It cited “independent laboratory tests conducted recently on an array of food products” as the basis for the allegations on the excessive lead levels. (10) Aside from Nurture Inc., Target and Whole Foods were also included in the lawsuit. (10) Attorney Vineet Dubey declared in a statement: (10)
Reducing Heavy Metals in Baby Food Products
There’s public outcry for the FDA to lower its maximum allowable limits for these toxic heavy metals. Pointing out that heavy metals, even in low concentrations, can negatively affect the brain and body development of little ones, US PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) and Consumer Reports call for the approval of the Baby Food Safety Act of 2021. (5) This law will require baby food manufacturers to test ingredients and finished products. It will also provide the FDA with the authority to strictly implement the regulations. Also, the companies will be required to disclose their test results to parents and regulatory agencies. (5)
What Is The Safest Baby Food Brand?
The following baby food products may be healthier alternatives you can pick for your baby:
Yumi (subscription-based) Little Spoon (subscription-based) Little Journey Organics Once Upon A Farm Serenity Kids
Other Companies In The Congressional Report On Toxic Baby Foods
These baby food manufacturers were also listed on the Congressional reports: (3)(4)
Campbell Soup Company (Plum Organics) Results
Plum Organics reportedly refused to submit their internal standards or actual test results, according to the Subcommittee. Instead, the company continues to insist that their finished products “meet criteria.” (3) The following test results for Plum Organics Organic Baby Food (Just Sweet Potato) are from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report: (11) Mercury:
Less than 0.142 ppb
Inorganic Arsenic:
Up to 3.1 ppb
Lead:
Up to 5.6 ppb (exceeds the 5-ppb limit)
Cadmium:
Up to 2.3 ppb
Plum Organics’ test results from 2017 to 2019 were finally included in the second Congressional Report. (4) But these showed that the company released many products with high levels of arsenic and other toxic metals: (4)
Arsenic: Over 200 ppb arsenic (100% of Plum’s Super Puff rice-based products) Lead: Over 5 ppb lead (54.5% of Plum Organics products) Cadmium: Over 5 ppb cadmium (38.3% of Plum Organics products)
Gerber Products Company
The company only tests its raw materials for heavy metal content, not the finished products. (3) Mercury:
No test for mercury.
Inorganic Arsenic:
Up to 90 ppb (ingredient: rice flour)
Lead:
Up to 48 ppb (ingredient: sweet potatoes)
Cadmium:
Over 5 ppb in carrots (75% of raw ingredients) Up to 87 ppb (ingredient: carrot batches) No test for cadmium (other ingredients or raw materials)
Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (Earth’s Best Organic)
Hain admitted in the Subcommittee Report that it doesn’t test for heavy metal content. Instead, they make “theoretical calculations” based on the ingredients’ results. (3) Inorganic Arsenic:
Up to 309 ppb (ingredients) Up to 129 ppb (finished products)
Mercury:
No test for mercury.
Lead:
Up to 352 ppb (raw materials)
Cadmium:
Up to 260 ppb (ingredients)
Walmart Inc. (Parent’s Choice)
Walmart refused to submit results or internal standards, the Subcommittee reported. These results are from Healthy Babies Bright Futures: (3) Inorganic Arsenic:
Up to 108 ppb (variant: Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks) Up to 56.1 ppb (variant: Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack)
Mercury:
Up to 2.05 ppb (variant: Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks) Up to 0.941 ppb (variant: Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack)
Lead:
Up to 26.9 ppb (variant: Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks)
Up to 5.2 ppb (variant: Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack)
Cadmium:
Up to 26.1 ppb (variant: Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack) Up to 2.4 ppb (variant: Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks)
Sprout Foods, Inc. (Sprout Organic Foods)
According to the Subcommittee Report, the company never responded. These test results for Organic Quinoa Puffs Baby Cereal Snack (Apple Kale) are from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report: (3) Inorganic Arsenic:
Up to 107 ppb
Mercury:
Up to 1.31 ppb
Lead:
Up to 39.3 ppb
Cadmium:
Up to 41.5 ppb
Beech-Nut Nutrition Company (Beech-Nut)
Beech-Nut reportedly declared that all its raw materials passed internal standards. (3) The company actually used ingredients that failed government regulations, but they set very high internal maximum levels so that these passed. (3) Mercury:
No test for mercury.
Inorganic Arsenic:
More than 300 ppb (in ingredients (additives) used in various products) Up to 913.4 ppb (in raw materials)
Lead:
Up to 886.9 ppb (in raw materials)
Cadmium:
Up to 344.55 ppb (in raw materials)
Preparing Healthier Alternatives At Home
Are you worried about the abundance of unsafe baby foods from popular name brands? You can also prepare your baby’s food at home with gadgets you already have on hand, such as a blender or food processor. You don’t have to buy a new gadget but if you’re planning to get a new kitchen appliance to prepare your baby’s food, you can choose Baby Brezza Baby Food Maker Machine. These are some of the fresh baby foods that you can try making at home:
Whole or puréed fruits and vegetables Quality meats, poultry, or fish Bone broth (from organic, grass-fed cows, if possible) Raw yogurt Coconut yogurt Eggs Quinoa Oats Healthy fats (olive oil, coconut oil, or ghee)
When preparing healthy baby food for your little one, try to avoid rice or rice flour because these might have high levels of arsenic, cadmium, and lead. (5) Carrots and sweet potatoes can also have high cadmium and lead levels, but they are important sources of vitamin A and other nutrients. (5) REFERENCES (1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23570911/ (2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4418502/ (3) https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2021-02-04%20ECP%20Baby%20Food%20Staff%20Report.pdf (4) https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/ECP%20Second%20Baby%20Food%20Report%209.29.21%20FINAL.pdf (5) https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2021/06/09/beech-nut-baby-food-recall-2021-rice-cereal-arsenic/7621243002/ (6) https://www.happyfamilyorganics.com/bars-quality-and-safety/ (7) https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/01/fda-acts-quickly-with-baby-food-warning/ (8) https://www.fda.gov/food/metals-and-your-food/arsenic-food-and-dietary-supplements (9) https://www.epa.gov/mercury/what-epa-doing-reduce-mercury-pollution-and-exposures-mercury (10) https://www.fox5ny.com/news/high-lead-levels-found-in-2-happy-tot-baby-food-products-lawsuit-alleges (11) http://www.healthybabyfood.org/sites/healthybabyfoods.org/files/2019-10/BabyFoodReport_FULLREPORT_ENGLISH_R5b.pdf
title: “Happytot Recall 2022 What You Need To Know Motherhood Community” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-16” author: “Moises Phillips”
Worse, despite public outcry over their heavy metal content, the companies mentioned in the 2021 Congressional Reports refused to issue any baby food recall on their products. (4) For baby food safety in the future, lawmakers and parents are putting pressure on the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to create stricter measures for baby food manufacturers. (5) They’re calling for the FDA to require baby food companies to test finished products for heavy metals, especially those just testing the raw materials. (5)
HappyTOT Recalls
These are the only product recalls that Nurture Inc. has issued on HappyTOT products. None have been issued concerning the Congressional Reports:
HappyTOT Super Foods Gluten-Free Oat Bars Recall (2020)
On November 3, 2020, Nurture Inc. issued a voluntary recall on several products, citing consumer complaints of the bars containing mold. (6) According to the baby food company, these bars were produced with higher water content. The increased moisture level made them susceptible to mold growth. (6) Due to the remote possibility of the high-moisture bars causing adverse health consequences, Nurture Inc. decided to recall them. The following lot codes of HappyTOT Super Foods Gluten-Free Oat Bars were affected by the recall. All these products are Organic Blueberries and Oatmeal, with UPC 8 19573 01507 2: (6)
BB 07 APR 2021 20098 BB 08 APR 2021 20099 BB 09 APR 2021 20100 BB 18 MAY 2021 20139 BB 19 MAY 2021 20140 BB 16 JUN 2021 20168 BB 28 AUG 2021 20241
These are the lot codes for the HappyTOT Super Foods Gluten-Free Oat Bars (Organic Bananas, Strawberries, and Sunflower Butter; with UPC 8 19573 01508 9) included in the recall: (6)
BB 13 APR 2021 20104 BB 08 MAY 2021 20129 BB 20 MAY 2021 20141 BB 21 MAY 2021 20142 BB 08 JUN 2021 20160 BB 09 JUN 2021 20161 BB 15 JUN 2021 20167
Aside from these HappyTOT products, the recall also included HappyKID Fruit & Oat Bar (Blueberry + Raspberry) with the following lot codes: (6)
BB 14 APR 2021 20105 BB 05 MAY 2021 20126 BB 11 MAY 2021 20132 BB 01 JUN 2021 20153 BB 08 JUN 2021 20190 BB 13 JUL 2021 20195 BB 04 AUG 2021 20217
You can find these lot codes and expiry dates at the back of the pouches, printed near the edge. If your child has consumed the recalled product and is not feeling well, Nurture Inc. recommends consulting with a physician. But they assured affected customers that the recalled products have a low risk of causing any adverse effects: (6) If you purchased any of the products from the affected lots, you can contact the Customer Service team at 855-644-HAPPY (42779) or [email protected] for a refund or replacement coupon. You may also return the product directly to the retail outlet. Nevertheless, it does not reflect the high standards we hold for our products and is not an experience we want our families to have.” To make sure that a similar incident won’t happen again in the future, the company claims that they have implemented tighter measures to monitor the water activity for every batch of bars that they bake. (6)
Are Happy TOT Pouches Recalled?
Responding to consumer complaints about swollen or leaking baby food pouches of different HappyBABY and HappyTOTproducts, the FDA issued a public warning over the serious food safety problem. (7) The compromised packaging is at risk of bacterial contamination, which could cause serious medical issues, including severe vomiting and nausea if ingested. The FDA warned the public from consuming any of the products that are swollen or leaking. Store employees and anyone who handled the contaminated products were advised to wash their hands thoroughly. (7) In response to the FDA’s safety warning, Nurture Inc. issued a recall on the following baby food pouches from HappyTOTStage 4, with expiration dates from November 2010 to January 2011: (7)
Green bean, pear & peas, net wt. 4.22 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00127 9 Sweet potato, carrot, apple & cinnamon, net wt. 4.22 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00128 6 Spinach, mango & pear, net wt. 4.22 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00129 3 Butternut squash & apple, net wt. 4.22 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00130 9 Banana, peach, coconut & prunes, net wt. 4.22 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00131 6 Banana, peach & mango, net wt. 4.22 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00132 3
Is Happy Baby Recalled?
These food pouches from HappyBABY Stages 1 and 2 (expiration dates from November 2010 to January 2011) were also recalled: (7)
Mango, net wt. 3.5 oz. – UPC 8 52697 00134 7 Spinach Mango Pear, net wt. 3.5 oz.- UPC 8 52697 00139 2 Apricot Sweet Potato, net wt. 3.5 oz. – UPC 8 52697
No other baby food products were affected by this recall. (7)
Happy Family Organics In The Congressional Report On Baby Food Safety
First Subcommittee Congressional Report
Heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium can harm your baby’s brain and body development, even at low concentrations. (1)(2) In February 2021, the US Congress Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy released a detailed Congressional Report on toxic products from several baby food manufacturers. (3) What’s alarming is that many of these baby foods are from popular name brands, according to a detailed Congressional Report in February 2021: (3)
Nurture, Inc. (HappyBABY and HappyTOT) Beech-Nut Nutrition Company (Beech-Nut) Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (Earth’s Best Organic) Gerber Campbell Soup Company (Plum Organics) Walmart Inc. (Parent’s Choice) Sprout Foods, Inc. (Sprout Organic Foods)
The companies reportedly knew that their ingredients have toxic elements, but they adjusted their internal standards so their tests “passed.” The tainted products were sold to unsuspecting customers. (3) These popular name brands are well-known for their baby foods, but all have dangerously high levels of toxic elements, particularly arsenic. (3) Of the seven baby food makers mentioned in the Congressional Report, only four provided the Subcommittee with their internal testing policies (for heavy metals) and test results: (3)
Gerber Beech-Nut Nurture Hain
But even with the quick response, the Subcommittee was alarmed to receive confirmation that these companies’ products truly contained dangerous levels of heavy metals. (3) The baby food manufacturers have different policies but created internal standards that have maximum limits several times higher than existing government regulations on other food products. The FDA maximum limit for infant rice cereal is 100 ppb (parts per billion) inorganic arsenic. (8) But these companies set their internal limits several times higher than the federal regulation: (3)
Beech-Nut (arsenic): 3,000 ppb Nurture (arsenic): 115 ppb Hain (arsenic): 200 ppb
The FDA’s maximum limits for bottled water are as follows: (8)
5 ppb cadmium 5 ppb lead 10 ppb inorganic arsenic
Instead of complying with these regulations or creating internal standards near these values, the following companies increased theirs to much higher levels: (3)
Beech-Nut (cadmium): 3,000 ppb Beech-Nut (lead): 5,000 ppb Hain (cadmium): 200 ppb Hain (lead): 200 ppb
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) maximum limit for drinking water (but may also apply to food) is 2 ppb mercury. (9)
Nurture, Inc. (HappyBABY, HappyTOTS, And Happy Family Organics)
While the other baby food makers only tested their raw materials and ingredients for heavy metal content, Nurture actually tested both ingredients and finished products. (3) Yet this didn’t clear them in the Congressional Report. (3) The Subcommittee was alarmed that Nurture knew that their products have high levels of toxic heavy metals, yet they continued to release these for little ones to eat. (3) According to the report, Nurture admitted that though they test their finished products, the results aren’t used as a basis for product release. So, the company released all products to the market, including those that exceeded the heavy metal maximum limits. (3) Is Happy TOT safe? These are the test results that the company submitted: (3) Inorganic Arsenic:
Up to 100 ppb (more than 25% of Nurture baby products) Up to 160 ppb (variant: Strawberry & Beet Puffs) Up to 160 ppb (variant: Banana & Pumpkin Puffs) Up to 180 ppb (variant: Apple & Broccoli Puffs)
Mercury:
Up to 9.8 ppb (variant: Banana Sweet Potato) Up to 10 ppb (variant: Brown Rice Cereal Canister)
Lead:
Up to 10 ppb (variant: Nurture vegetables and rice products) Up to 560 ppb (variant: Multi-Grain Cereal Canister) Up to 641 ppb (variant: Blueberry Purple Carrot)
Cadmium:
Up to 5 ppb (around 65% of Nurture products) Up to 36 ppb (variant: Strawberry Raspberry) Up to 49 ppb (variant: Multi-Grain Cereal Canister)
Second Congressional Report
In a new report released in September 2021, the Subcommittee announced that the state of Alaska tested the baby food products from the report independently. The results showed that these companies continued to produce and release products with dangerously high levels of inorganic arsenic. (3)(4) The Subcommittee Report also pointed out that these baby food companies failed to recall the tainted products or notify the public of their heavy metal content. (4)
Lawsuit Against HappyTOT For Heavy Metal Content
Last June 2021, the Ecological Alliance LLC in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit against Happy Family Organics parent company Nurture Inc. for making two products allegedly containing dangerous levels of lead: (10)
HappyTOT cheese and spinach ravioli product HappyTOT apple and spinach fruit snack bar
The lawsuit alleges that cheese and spinach ravioli has over 12 times the daily maximum amount of lead exposure for a child, while the snack bar has “higher-than-acceptable” lead content. (10) It cited “independent laboratory tests conducted recently on an array of food products” as the basis for the allegations on the excessive lead levels. (10) Aside from Nurture Inc., Target and Whole Foods were also included in the lawsuit. (10) Attorney Vineet Dubey declared in a statement: (10)
Reducing Heavy Metals in Baby Food Products
There’s public outcry for the FDA to lower its maximum allowable limits for these toxic heavy metals. Pointing out that heavy metals, even in low concentrations, can negatively affect the brain and body development of little ones, US PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) and Consumer Reports call for the approval of the Baby Food Safety Act of 2021. (5) This law will require baby food manufacturers to test ingredients and finished products. It will also provide the FDA with the authority to strictly implement the regulations. Also, the companies will be required to disclose their test results to parents and regulatory agencies. (5)
What Is The Safest Baby Food Brand?
The following baby food products may be healthier alternatives you can pick for your baby:
Yumi (subscription-based) Little Spoon (subscription-based) Little Journey Organics Once Upon A Farm Serenity Kids
Other Companies In The Congressional Report On Toxic Baby Foods
These baby food manufacturers were also listed on the Congressional reports: (3)(4)
Campbell Soup Company (Plum Organics) Results
Plum Organics reportedly refused to submit their internal standards or actual test results, according to the Subcommittee. Instead, the company continues to insist that their finished products “meet criteria.” (3) The following test results for Plum Organics Organic Baby Food (Just Sweet Potato) are from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report: (11) Mercury:
Less than 0.142 ppb
Inorganic Arsenic:
Up to 3.1 ppb
Lead:
Up to 5.6 ppb (exceeds the 5-ppb limit)
Cadmium:
Up to 2.3 ppb
Plum Organics’ test results from 2017 to 2019 were finally included in the second Congressional Report. (4) But these showed that the company released many products with high levels of arsenic and other toxic metals: (4)
Arsenic: Over 200 ppb arsenic (100% of Plum’s Super Puff rice-based products) Lead: Over 5 ppb lead (54.5% of Plum Organics products) Cadmium: Over 5 ppb cadmium (38.3% of Plum Organics products)
Gerber Products Company
The company only tests its raw materials for heavy metal content, not the finished products. (3) Mercury:
No test for mercury.
Inorganic Arsenic:
Up to 90 ppb (ingredient: rice flour)
Lead:
Up to 48 ppb (ingredient: sweet potatoes)
Cadmium:
Over 5 ppb in carrots (75% of raw ingredients) Up to 87 ppb (ingredient: carrot batches) No test for cadmium (other ingredients or raw materials)
Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (Earth’s Best Organic)
Hain admitted in the Subcommittee Report that it doesn’t test for heavy metal content. Instead, they make “theoretical calculations” based on the ingredients’ results. (3) Inorganic Arsenic:
Up to 309 ppb (ingredients) Up to 129 ppb (finished products)
Mercury:
No test for mercury.
Lead:
Up to 352 ppb (raw materials)
Cadmium:
Up to 260 ppb (ingredients)
Walmart Inc. (Parent’s Choice)
Walmart refused to submit results or internal standards, the Subcommittee reported. These results are from Healthy Babies Bright Futures: (3) Inorganic Arsenic:
Up to 108 ppb (variant: Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks) Up to 56.1 ppb (variant: Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack)
Mercury:
Up to 2.05 ppb (variant: Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks) Up to 0.941 ppb (variant: Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack)
Lead:
Up to 26.9 ppb (variant: Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks)
Up to 5.2 ppb (variant: Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack)
Cadmium:
Up to 26.1 ppb (variant: Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack) Up to 2.4 ppb (variant: Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks)
Sprout Foods, Inc. (Sprout Organic Foods)
According to the Subcommittee Report, the company never responded. These test results for Organic Quinoa Puffs Baby Cereal Snack (Apple Kale) are from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report: (3) Inorganic Arsenic:
Up to 107 ppb
Mercury:
Up to 1.31 ppb
Lead:
Up to 39.3 ppb
Cadmium:
Up to 41.5 ppb
Beech-Nut Nutrition Company (Beech-Nut)
Beech-Nut reportedly declared that all its raw materials passed internal standards. (3) The company actually used ingredients that failed government regulations, but they set very high internal maximum levels so that these passed. (3) Mercury:
No test for mercury.
Inorganic Arsenic:
More than 300 ppb (in ingredients (additives) used in various products) Up to 913.4 ppb (in raw materials)
Lead:
Up to 886.9 ppb (in raw materials)
Cadmium:
Up to 344.55 ppb (in raw materials)
Preparing Healthier Alternatives At Home
Are you worried about the abundance of unsafe baby foods from popular name brands? You can also prepare your baby’s food at home with gadgets you already have on hand, such as a blender or food processor. You don’t have to buy a new gadget but if you’re planning to get a new kitchen appliance to prepare your baby’s food, you can choose Baby Brezza Baby Food Maker Machine. These are some of the fresh baby foods that you can try making at home:
Whole or puréed fruits and vegetables Quality meats, poultry, or fish Bone broth (from organic, grass-fed cows, if possible) Raw yogurt Coconut yogurt Eggs Quinoa Oats Healthy fats (olive oil, coconut oil, or ghee)
When preparing healthy baby food for your little one, try to avoid rice or rice flour because these might have high levels of arsenic, cadmium, and lead. (5) Carrots and sweet potatoes can also have high cadmium and lead levels, but they are important sources of vitamin A and other nutrients. (5) REFERENCES (1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23570911/ (2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4418502/ (3) https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2021-02-04%20ECP%20Baby%20Food%20Staff%20Report.pdf (4) https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/ECP%20Second%20Baby%20Food%20Report%209.29.21%20FINAL.pdf (5) https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2021/06/09/beech-nut-baby-food-recall-2021-rice-cereal-arsenic/7621243002/ (6) https://www.happyfamilyorganics.com/bars-quality-and-safety/ (7) https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/01/fda-acts-quickly-with-baby-food-warning/ (8) https://www.fda.gov/food/metals-and-your-food/arsenic-food-and-dietary-supplements (9) https://www.epa.gov/mercury/what-epa-doing-reduce-mercury-pollution-and-exposures-mercury (10) https://www.fox5ny.com/news/high-lead-levels-found-in-2-happy-tot-baby-food-products-lawsuit-alleges (11) http://www.healthybabyfood.org/sites/healthybabyfoods.org/files/2019-10/BabyFoodReport_FULLREPORT_ENGLISH_R5b.pdf
