Toxic elements in baby and young children’s foods in the US and correlation to ingredients

A non-targeted convenience survey consisting of 566 ready-to-eat baby foods was conducted in 2023 to determine the levels of total arsenic, cadmium, total mercury, lead and thallium. Data collection expanded the scope of food categories tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021, prioritising foods commonly eaten by babies and young children, while also including selected foods consumed by pregnant women and nursing mothers. Quality control was performed according to the specific food matrix category and target analyte. Arsenic speciation analysis was completed on a subset of foods and products containing fish were analysed for both inorganic arsenic and methylmercury. Arsenic levels were associated with rice-containing foods, lead with root vegetable ingredients such as sweet potatoes and thallium with brassica vegetables such as kale. The predictor model indicated no association between cadmium and any of the individual ingredients. Also, additional data are needed to support predictors for mercury.