A study, recently done by the Clean Label Project, found that a large percent of baby foods and baby formula tested positive for toxins. The study tested over 500 baby food products from a variety of products and various brands, and screened them for over 100 toxins. The result was astonishing and quite alarming. Of the 500+ baby products tested, 65% of products tested positive for arsenic, 36% for lead, 58% for cadmium, and 10% for acrylamides. Other concerning toxins found were arsenic and BPA (bisphenol A). The concern with any and all these chemicals, are the affect they can have on fine motor skills and cognition as a baby develops. For example, cadium is a carcinogenic metal that can be found in batteries, not something that a growing child, let alone any human, should ingest. When a human consumes these toxic materials, they enter the bloodstream, and the body, mistaking it for calcium, welcoming it into vital cells (such as those in bone marrow, kidneys, and the brain) where it interferes with the enzymes necessary for these organs to function normally.
As stated in USA Today by FDA Spokesperson, Peter Cassell, “It is important for consumers to understand that some contaminants, such as heavy metals like lead or arsenic, are in the environment and cannot simply be removed from food.” One way to avoid this contamination – breastfeeding. Breastfeed as long as possible, and make your own baby food. As your child is growing and developing, parents should ask themselves – what “diet” do I feed my child? My answer, the “real food” diet.
For more information on this study, visit the Clean Label Project website.