Entry Details

About the Entry

Category: 
All Content > Original Research > Mid Atlantic

Title of entry: 
Baby Foods With Toxic Metals Stay on US Market While FDA Dithers

Issue or Publication date:
Jan. 5, 2023

Publication name: 
Bloomberg Law

Publishing/parent company: 
Bloomberg Industry Group

View Website home page:
https://news.bloomberglaw.com

Description of the enterprising work that went into this entry and its significance or impact on readers:

The FDA has known for decades about the hazards of heavy metals in baby food. So have Congress and manufacturers. Yet, little has been done about it: metals are as pervasive in baby food today as ever.

We know this because we commissioned an independent laboratory to test 33 kinds of foods.

The reporting originated when reporter Julie Steinberg came across a lawsuit where a California mother alleged her son became autistic fromeating rice cakes with high levels of metals. Julie partnered with Gary Harki, Celine Castronuovo, Stu Basu, and Alex Ruoff, journalists from across our newsroom, to fully report this piece.
Two weeks after our story published, and after at least nine months of delays, FDA released new guidelines around lead in baby foods. But we also discovered and reported that the FDA quietly removed its timeline for more actions after our story was published.

Sens. Duckworth and Amy Klobuchar, and Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Rep. Tony Cardenas wrote a letter to the FDA citing our investigation,demanding action and questioning the FDA's lack of action.

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https://news.bloomberglaw.com/interactive/baby-foods-with-toxic-metals-stay-on-us-market-while-fda-dithers