Baby food recalls aren’t always on parents’ radar, which means that oftentimes parents will unwittingly feed their babies foods that aren’t completely safe. Unfortunately, not all unsafe baby food is recalled promptly, putting the health and safety of countless children at risk. Recently, a congressional investigation identified a series of baby food products that contained high levels of heavy metals and other toxics, which goes against federal food safety guidelines. Now, at least one state is suing.
Congressional Investigation Finds Dangerous Levels Of Toxins In Baby Food Products
In the congressional report, officials stated that while Nurture, Beech-Nut, Hain, and Gerber baby food makers cooperated with the investigation, others such as Walmart, Campbell, and Sprout Organic Foods refused to cooperate.
Following the probe, officials found that “baby foods are tainted with significant levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury.”
Because children exposed to these toxins are more likely to suffer slow neurological development and long-term health consequences as a result, officials are urging regulators with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement mandatory testing on all baby food items. Additionally, they would like to see a series of reforms being implemented, and are also demanding that manufacturers begin to add warnings to the products’ labels. This could help parents make better choices.
NM Sues Companies For Endangering Babies
Following the report, the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the manufacturers targeted by Congress, stating that “any company that harms New Mexican children will be held accountable.”
Due to the concentrations of poisonous toxins in baby food products that “are multiples higher than allowed under existing regulations for other products,” the Attorney General’s office explained, something must be done to ensure children are no longer exposed to the same risks.
The state seeks damages, restitution, civil penalties, and other remedies, the office stated in its news release.
For more information on these baby food products and the NM lawsuit, follow this link. And to keep up with personal injury legal news continue to visit our site regularly.
