Baby Foods and Heavy Metals

I'm sure you've read the headlines about a variety of heavy metals being found in baby foods. But before you throw out all the baby food, do some reading and see how to minimize risks for your child. I say minimize, because there is no way to completely eliminate our exposures to heavy metals, unless you plan on being the first family to colonize Mars!

I am linking some helpful resources below, but here are some basic facts:

• Heavy metals are found in a variety of foods. They leach into the food from the ground as they are grown. Some common examples are rice, apples, and carrots.

• While there is still more for us to learn, the levels of these metals found in foods are relatively low.

• We can lower the overall exposure to heavy metals by making sure our water and homes are lead-free, and avoiding smoking or vaping around children.

• It is important to have a variety of foods and grains in our children's diets. For example, give your child a variety of fruits instead of apple juice. Skip the rice cereal, and opt for oatmeal cereal and other grains.

Check out these links for more information.

Dr. Iannelli's helpful article

More information from the AAP