What are we feeding our babies? I myself am guilty to have used a few of these brands! I share this to empower you to do your research and dig into labels when you need to!

Did you know the top leading baby food companies have been found to contain extremely dangerous heavy metals such as Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury?! The FDA and WHO have declared them dangerous for human consumption, particularly to babies and children because they are most vulnerable to brain damage! The top companies that were sent to be questioned are:

1. Nurture-sells Happy Family Organics and HappyBABY
2. Beech Nut Nutrition -Beech-Nut
3. Hain Celestial Group-sells Earth's Best Organic
4. Gerber
5. Campbell-sells Plum Organics
6. Walmart-sells Parent's Choice Brand
7. Sprout Foods, Inc (Sprout Organic Foods)

Of the 7 that are requested, four responded (why not the other three you wonder?) The ones that would NOT respond (in fact ,downright refused) were Walmart, Campbell & Sprout Organics. Their refusal has signaled much curiosity and fear.

Findings of the Report:

Baby foods were tainted with a high level of these toxic heavy metals. The concern is these metals not only cause neurological development (which alone is a major concern) but can affect permanently IQ levels, and long-term function. These have also been shown to risk for anti-social behavior for children.

Interestingly, you will NOT see the heavy metals listed in the ingredients. The mechanism of production is what contaminated these foods.

For example, HappyBABY sells finished baby foods that tested as high as 641 ppb lead in at least 20% of the products that were tested. It was not in the list of ingredients actually used to make the product but as a byproduct.

Which metals were found in each brand? (the specific breakdown of the amount is in the article attached that I HIGHLY recommend you read!)

• Lead was found in: HappyBABY, Beech-Nut, Hain's Earth's Best Organic
• Cadmium was found in: BeechNut, Earth's Best Organic, HappyBaby and Gerber's
• Mercury: HappyBaby, (BeechNut, Earth's Best, Gerber DON'T even test for mercury!!!!!!)

The concern is policy for testing are only for ingredients to MAKE the product, NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT which is where these metals are actually found. Some companies might actually be adding more ingredients, such as vitamins and minerals that are contaminated with the toxic metals as well, so that is a double whammy!

The ingredient testing is wholly inadequate and needs to change. I don't agree too much about the angle of the political aspect of this article, but only the fact that we cant feed these foods to our babies!

BETTER OPTIONS

Just make your own! This has always been the best, easiest, cheapest option! All you need is a blender and whatever you have at hand.

One of my favorite things to do is puree whatever we are all eating to give Emily. No extra work done, no hassle! I have tons of ideas and recipes to share on @ as well as more safe swaps and baby-lead weaning tips.