Parents are voicing their frustration on social media over the FDA’s failure to regulate toxic metals following a report released earlier this month, which found dangerous levels of said metals in popular baby food brands.
Earlier this month, Babygaga reported that research was undertaken by the subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Reporting to Congress, the report criticized the lack of regulations surrounding baby foods, which they argued has resulted in high levels of metals contaminating baby foods. Such metals included arsenic, lead, and cadmium. Exposure to heavy metals in childhood has been associated with behavioral problems later in life. It’s also connected to neurological impairments and even fatality.
The report has also resulted in a controversy surrounding several companies involved in the investigation. The committee requested information from the following seven companies: Nurture, Inc., which sells Happy Family Organics; Beech-Nut-Nutrition Company; Hain Celestial Group, producers of Earth’s Best Organics; Gerber; Campbell Soup Company, which sells baby food under the name Plum Organics; Walmart Inc., which sells products under Parent’s Choice; and Sprout Foods, producers of Sprout Organic Foods.
Three of the seven companies who were given requests for data failed to comply, including Sprout Organic Foods, Campbell Soup Company, and finally, Walmart. The companies were heavily criticized for their incompliance in the report.
Overall, the report aimed to emphasize the danger in the FDA’s relaxed approach to regulating the baby food industry, which has largely been left unregulated. The outrage sparked by the Congress report has motivated many angry consumers to voice their concerns online, hoping it will spark actions from the FDA.
Politico notes that many parents are specifically targeting the baby food brands mentioned in the report. Some consumers vented anger. “You knowingly sell food that hurt babies for profit,” one person wrote on an Instagram post made to Beech-Nut baby food’s official account. “You are MONSTERS.”
Other commenters expressed worry and fear, especially since it’s unclear what baby food brands may be safer alternatives than others.” I have been feeding my 15-month-old Beechnut for the past 5 months or so,” one mother wrote on the same post. “I’m so scared right now. I feel like a failure of a mom because I put who knows what into his system. I am so emotional right now and scared.”
The publication went on to criticize the government for not taking action. It’s not only that the FDA has declined to share concrete plans for how to address the concerns highlighted in the report. It’s that they had three years to take action while the investigation was taking place. Even more, Politico notes that baby food is not the only product featuring trace levels of dangerous metals. Nevertheless, the federal government has failed to put a plan in place to reduce and stop the exposure, the publication continues.
As of now, the federal government has declined to directly address the report. Babygaga will keep its readers updated as this story progresses.
Sources: Politico, Instagram @beechnutfoods,