What baby foods are safe from heavy metals?

Use oatmeal, quinoa, or barley-based infant cereal instead of rice cereal. Choose a rice that has lower natural arsenic content, like basmati and sushi rice. Avoid rice-based snacks, like puffs. Instead, try yogurts, cheeses, or soft fruits, like applesauce, peaches, and bananas.

What are the safest baby foods?

“I usually recommend starting with any single ingredient vegetable or fruit puree—avocado, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots or peas are all good choices. The AAP even recommends starting with pureed meat, as it is a good source of iron,” says Dr. Agnese.

Should I worry about heavy metals in baby food?

Can heavy metals in baby food harm my baby? The low levels of heavy metals found in baby foods likely are a relatively small part of a child's overall toxic metal exposure risk . However, exposure from all sources should be minimized. Toxic metal exposure can be harmful to the developing brain.

What is the least contaminated baby food?

After bananas, the least contaminated foods were grits, manufactured baby food meats, butternut squash, lamb, apples, pork, eggs, oranges and watermelon , in that order. Other foods with lower levels of contamination included green beans, peas, cucumbers, and soft or pureed home-cooked meats, the report found.

Does Beechnut baby food have heavy metals in it?

Current research and testing have shown that many commercial baby food products, including Beech-Nut baby food, are tainted with unsafe levels of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium .

Does Little Spoon baby food have heavy metals?

Little Spoon provides safe organic babyfood without heavy metals and preservatives.

Do sweet potatoes have heavy metals?

Certain vegetables, including sweet potato and carrots, both popular first foods, carry a slightly higher risk of heavy metal contamination .

What baby oatmeal does not contain heavy metals?

If you are concerned about heavy metals in baby food, you can start with oat or quinoa as those grains naturally have less risk.

Does Gerber baby food have heavy metals?

Is Gerber Baby Food Safe? No. Gerber food products have high levels of toxic heavy metals . In February of 2021, a U.S. House Oversight subcommittee issued a report that found tremendous amounts of toxic heavy metals in baby food products from several major brands, including Gerber.

Baby Foods Without Heavy Metals (2024)

This year, multiple government reports found that baby foods from several top brands “are tainted with significant levels of toxic heavy metals, includingarsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury.” While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced some initiatives aimed at reducing heavy metals in baby foods, the consumer attorneys at Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman believe there is still a long way to go before children are safe from the dangers these tainted products pose.

For example, the FDA has yet to implement comprehensive federal standards regarding toxic heavy metals in baby foods. Unfortunately, this lack of oversight puts pressure on parents to research baby food brands and products for safety.

Our attorneys often get calls from parents who want to know which baby food brands do a good job testing and screening ingredients that add to heavy metals levels. Contrary to the excuses some of the major manufacturers have put out that the heavy metals issue is unavoidable, there are a lot of companies that go to great lengths to make healthy products. Read on for more information on safe baby foods without heavy metals.

Safest Baby Food

One of the best ways to ensure that your child consumes only the highest quality foods is to make your own baby food using quality ingredients. Of course, not all parents have the time or resources necessary to make their own baby food. So if you need to buy premade baby foods, some of the brands that include:

Yumi

In addition to only using organic ingredients, Yumi rigorously tests its products for toxic heavy metals. They test the ingredients they use before processing as well as the finished products.

The company only uses USDA-certified organic ingredients and it only partners with farms that are trusted as USDA-certified organic and Non-GMO Project verified.

Yumi also considers federal soil contamination data to find the best farms for baby food ingredients. The company refrains from including soy, rice, and fruit juice within its products specifically because these ingredients add toxic heavy metals to baby foods.

Once Upon a Farm

Another baby food brand that makes a strong commitment to safe products is Once Upon a Farm. It is a newer brand that is dedicated to providing nutritious baby food products by only using organic and non-GMO ingredients. They also don’t use any preservatives, which means they are perishable and must stay in the refrigerator.

Square Baby

The products that Square Baby sells are all USDA certified organic and non-GMO. They provide a subscription-based service in which they deliver frozen meals to your home based on the schedule you set up. This new brand is solely available for purchase online and they only deliver to the following states at this time:

Arizona
California
Colorado
Idaho
Nevada
Oregon
Utah
Washington

Little Spoon

Little Spoon prepares certified USDA organic baby foods, and the majority of its products are highly nutritious. These baby foods arrive at your door fresh, preservative- and pasteurization-free. One thing to keep in mind is that Little Spoon products must be eaten within two weeks or they may spoil.

This company is similar to Square Baby in the sense that it provides its products to customers using a delivery service. It offers a subscription package or you can purchase products without subscribing.

Serenity Kids

Serenity Kids has made a strong commitment to diligently vet each of its suppliers in an effort to only use the cleanest ingredients. This brand solely uses organic vegetables grown on trusted U.S. family farms that regularly conduct soil testing, have comprehensive food safety systems in place, and ensure the most meticulous food safety audit (SQF Level III).

Baby Food Lawyer Videos – watch here.

Other Ways to Reduce Heavy Metals in Your Child’s Diet

Read Food Labels

One of the best things you can do to reduce your child’s exposure to toxic heavy metals is to read food labels before you buy. Pay careful attention to the brand and the first few ingredients listed in the product.

Ingredients are listed in order of prevalence in the product. Some baby food products may emphasize flavors like “kale and pear” or “pumpkin and spinach,” but a closer inspection reveals that the main ingredient is sweet potatoes. As you can see from the ingredients listed in the government reports at the top of this blog, sweet potatoes frequently test high in heavy metals.

It is also wise to avoid rice-based foods, or products including additives such as premade vitamin mixes.

Breastfeeding

If you can, using breastmilk to feed your child is much safer than using infant formula as some of the formulas on the market test high for heavy metals.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), mothers should breastfeed exclusively for about six months. Then, mothers should continue breastfeeding for a year or more as complementary foods are introduced into the child’s diet. Breastfeeding should continue as long as it is mutually desired by both the mother and baby.

Replace Fruit Juice with Water

Kids love fruit juices, but it’s important to keep in mind that some fruit juices (like grape juice) test high for arsenic.

Instead of serving fruit juice to your child, you can sweeten the water you serve using fresh lemon. You can also give your child sliced whole fruits.

Try Making Your Own Purees and Baby Foods

Many people may not have the time or resources needed to make baby food, but the advantages of making your child’s food at home can help him or her avoid toxic heavy metals and other contaminants as a result of packaging and manufacturing.

You may think that making your own baby food has to be expensive. It doesn’t. You can choose which ingredients fit your budget and your child’s taste buds. If you’d like to learn more about how you can make your own organic baby food, The Big Book of Organic Toddler Food is a good place to start.

We Help Parents with Kids Harmed by Heavy Metals in Baby Foods

It is fair to assume that the FDA-approved food you buy for your child is safe and healthy. You may be distraught to discover that you’ve been feeding your child products that contain toxic heavy metals. Frustratingly, some companies knowingly sell products with high levels of heavy metals and refuse to issue baby food recalls.

If your child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder (ADHD) after regularly consuming baby foods from the brands listed in the government reports, we want to help your family seek justice in a baby food lawsuit. Don’t delay—reach out to our firm right away with any questions you may have. We are ready and willing to fight for your family now.

Call (855) 948-5098 or submit an online contact form today to get your free consultation with one of our skilled toxic baby food lawsuit attorneys.