Starting in January, a new California regulation will require companies that sell baby food to disclose their testing results for certain heavy metals. This is part of an effort to provide more transparency and ensure the safety of baby food products.
The law, which comes after growing concerns over heavy metal contamination in baby food, aims to give consumers more information about the levels of harmful metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium in the products they buy. In 2021, a Congressional report highlighted troubling levels of these metals in popular baby food brands, sparking public concern. California’s Assembly Bill 899, signed into law in late 2023, will require baby food companies to make labeling changes by 2025.
Why the Law is Important
Experts believe California’s new law could be the beginning of more stringent ingredient transparency regulations nationwide. Jackie Bowen, executive director of the Clean Label Project, says similar laws are being introduced in other states, and many state attorneys general are urging the federal government to regulate heavy metal levels in baby food.
Bowen sees this push for transparency as a response to growing consumer demand for more information. “Consumers want access to more details about what’s in their food,” she said. “This law allows them to do their homework and understand the ingredients better.”
How Heavy Metals End Up in Baby Food
Heavy metals naturally occur in the environment and can be found in soil, which is how they sometimes end up in food. While trace amounts are usually not harmful, high levels of heavy metals can pose serious health risks, especially to infants. These metals can affect brain development and overall health, according to the FDA.
Since January 2024, companies selling baby food in California must conduct monthly testing for harmful metals to ensure they’re within safe limits. Starting in 2025, they will be required to post their test results online, along with batch numbers, and include a QR code on product packaging that links to the testing data. The law also mandates that the testing page provide links to the FDA’s information on toxic metals.
How the Testing Will Work
The law does not specify exactly how brands must conduct the testing or what additional information they must provide. As Bowen explains, the goal is simply to make testing results public. “The law is about holding brands accountable and making their information accessible to consumers,” she said.
Who Needs to Comply?
Any company that sells baby food in California will be affected by the law. This includes all baby food products intended for children under the age of 2, but does not apply to infant formula, though dietary supplements are included.
Challenges for Brands
One of the biggest challenges for brands will be sharing testing information in a way that is clear and informative without causing unnecessary alarm. Dr. Joseph Zagorski, a toxicologist at Michigan State University, emphasizes the need for context. He suggests that companies should avoid simply posting raw test numbers and instead offer examples to help consumers understand the significance of the results. For example, they could show how much of a product someone would need to consume before reaching toxic levels.
Without proper context, consumers could misinterpret the information and become unnecessarily concerned, potentially damaging trust in the brand.
How Companies Are Preparing
Some companies are already taking steps to comply with the new law. Organic baby food brand Once Upon a Farm has been working with accredited labs to monitor heavy metal contamination, even before AB 899 was passed. The company is reviewing all of its ingredients and sourcing practices to ensure each product meets the new requirements.
Katie Marston, the company’s chief marketing officer, says the process has been challenging but necessary. “It’s a huge undertaking, but once we’re done, we’ll have all this information to share with consumers.”
To meet the law’s requirements, Once Upon a Farm has partnered with Brij, a marketing platform that creates QR code-enabled product pages. Brij helps companies ensure their test results are easy for consumers to access and understand.
Making Test Results Understandable
Kait Stephens, CEO of Brij, explains that while brands can comply with the law by simply linking to a PDF of their test results, there’s an opportunity to do more. “Simply showing a test result without any context could confuse or alarm customers,” she said. Brij’s platform aims to make the data more digestible and help consumers make informed choices.
What’s Next for Brands and the Industry
Once Upon a Farm plans to start adding QR codes to product labels in January, allowing parents to access heavy metal testing data for their children’s food. However, the company also plans to extend the testing database to include all of its products, even those meant for older children.Marston notes that while some consumers will want a detailed, in-depth look at the data, others may only need a quick overview to feel comfortable. “At the end of the day, many parents just want to know that they’re giving their kids safe, healthy food.”
As more states follow California’s lead, experts expect additional regulations aimed at improving ingredient transparency in the food industry. Maryland, for instance, will require similar QR code labeling starting in 2026. Meanwhile, some lawmakers are pushing for the FDA to take more action on regulating heavy metal levels in food.
Bowen from the Clean Label Project believes that these laws are part of a broader conversation about food safety and quality. “If we want to ensure high-quality, nutritious baby food, we also need to talk about the quality of the ingredients,” she said.
In the coming years, ingredient transparency could become a key focus for both lawmakers and consumers, leading to further changes in the way companies test and label their food products.
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