The majority of baby foods tested in the United States contain toxic heavy metals
The majority of baby foods tested in the United States contain toxic heavy metals
After their four months, children discover food diversification. In addition to milk vegetables, fruits, meat, starchy foods ... This is an important step in their development. While it is recommended that "home-made" be used as much as possible for both adults and children, parents can also turn to industrial pots for convenience. The latter are subject to the regulation of "foods intended for infants and young children", that is to say that they meet very strict standards of manufacture, hygiene and composition, as explained. the Inpes in its "Guide nutrition from birth to 3 years. "
But it's always better to check their recipe closely, because a recent survey conducted in the United States by the Healthy Babies Bright Future association reveals that 95% of tested baby foods contain one or more toxic chemicals called lead arsenic, mercury and cadmium. The experts looked closely at 168 foods, made by both big US and small companies, and the results revealed that one out of four baby food tested contained these four nerve chemicals. In addition, 40% contained three out of four, 21% two out of four, 8% one in four products and only 5% (9 foods tested) contained none.
Rice-based foods are the most contaminated
However, numerous scientific studies have shown that arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury have a negative impact on the proper development of the child's brain. The association's survey cites 23 studies published over the last seven years warning of adverse effects such as loss of IQ, attention deficit and other learning and behavioral impacts in exposed children. In addition, three of the detected metals (arsenic, lead and cadmium) are carcinogenic to humans. Their presence in baby foods is of particular concern because babies are more sensitive to toxic effects.
"Arsenic, lead and other heavy metals are known causes of damage to the child's neurological development. "Says Dr. Philip Landrigan, a pediatrician at Boston College. "Low-level exposures add up, and early-life exposures are especially dangerous. The cumulative effect is what makes it an important concern. The most common foods are those based on rice, fruit juice, carrots and sweet potatoes (root vegetable). Their contamination by these toxic metals occurs naturally or because of environmental pollution: rice crops for example, absorb them via soil and water.
"Rice-based foods, popular with babies, are not only rich in inorganic arsenic, the most toxic form, but they are almost always contaminated by the four toxic metals. "Says the association. It is not only baby foods that are affected by this phenomenon, but the association points to a lack of specific regulations for them. It invites parents to turn to alternatives that would reduce the risk of toxic residues by 80%. For example meals based on other cereals (oats, barley, wheat, quinoa) and vegetables that do not belong to the family of root vegetables.