An FDA Update: The Latest on Heavy Metals
FDA Update on Lead
Recently, FDA announced new industry standards for lead in processed foods intended for babies and children under two years of age. Foods covered by the draft guidance, Action Levels for Lead in Food Intended for Babies and Young Children include processed foods such as food packaged in jars, pouches, tubs and boxes.
The new guidelines for lead are as follows:
- 10 parts per billion (ppb) for fruits, vegetables (excluding single-ingredient root vegetables), mixed meals (including grain and meat-based mixtures), yogurts, custards/pudding and single-ingredient meats.
- 20 ppb for root vegetables (single ingredient like carrots, sweet potatoes).
- 20 ppb for dry cereals.
These new action limits are not mandatory, but the FDA may take various enforcement actions if they consider a food to be adulterated if it exceeds the new limits. Although this is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done to reduce exposure - and it is up to the manufacturers to lower the levels of contaminants in their products.
Currently, there are no set industry standards for toxic heavy metals in cadmium and mercury.
Our Commitment To You
Our commitment to our Square Baby Family has always been the same - to provide safe, healthy, and balanced food for your baby. That includes working with trusted organic farms and suppliers as well as monitoring and testing for heavy metals in our finished meals. We stand by that promise and want to share our continued efforts and dedication to our families.
Read more to find out how we have minimized heavy metals in baby food.
As of March 2023, we've earned the Clean Label Project "Purity Award!" Earning the ultimate standard of certification is no easy feat. The Clean Label Project conducts rigorous, independent food tests for over 400 different contaminants including heavy metals, chemicals, plastics, pesticides and other toxins. Read more on our blog and on CLP's website.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions by emailing us at hello@squarebaby.com or visiting squarebaby.com.
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~Katie and Kendall, cofounders