A survey of toxic elements in ready to eat baby foods in the US market 2021

A non-targeted convenience survey was conducted in 2021 to estimate the range of total arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), total mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) concentrations in ready-to-eat baby foods. Four hundred samples were purchased both online and in brick-and-mortar retail. Samples included both organic and non-organic products, packaged in glass or plastic jars and foil or plastic pouches. Samples were analysed by acid assisted microwave digestion and ICP-MS with an emphasis on ultra-low detection limits. Limits of quantification were 2.26, 1.31, 0.72, and 3.14 mu g/kg (ppb) for As, Cd, Hg and Pb, respectively. The median concentrations of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb in tested products were 2.60, 1.81, 0.09, and 1.38 mu g/kg, respectively. Foods containing rice were more likely to contain arsenic. Foods with leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, were more likely to contain cadmium and foods with root vegetables had the highest concentrations of lead.

Automated summary

A non-targeted convenience survey was conducted in 2021 to estimate the range of total arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), total mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) concentrations in ready-to-eat baby foods. The survey analyzed 400 samples purchased from both online and brick-and-mortar retail, including organic and non-organic products packaged in different materials. Results showed that foods containing rice were more likely to contain arsenic, while foods with leafy greens were more likely to contain cadmium, and foods with root vegetables had the highest concentrations of lead.