New York state lawmakers have approved new requirements aimed at increasing safety and transparency in infant formula and baby food, as concerns grow over recalls, lawsuits and testing that has found trace amounts of heavy metals in some products.
Legislation passed earlier this month requires infant formula and baby food manufacturers to test their products at least once a month. The testing is for heavy metals including lead, arsenic and mercury. Manufacturers also must publicly disclose the results on their websites.
The move comes as Consumer Reports testing has shown at least trace amounts of heavy metals in a “fair amount” of these products, and as some formulas have been recalled and lawsuits have been filed. New York now joins California and a handful of other states taking steps intended to ensure the products are safe.
“I think it’s great because for us, we had to use a bunch of different brands to kind of figure out what worked best for our sun Clark,” said CBS6 morning show anchor J.T. Fetch. “That ended up getting recalled though.”
CBS6 morning show anchor Olivia Jacquith said the frequency with which babies eat these products makes the issue especially concerning. “The thing with baby food, too, is once they are on baby food, they’re having it constantly every single day,” Olivia said. “And so, even if it’s just a teeny, tiny amount, it compounds really quickly.”
State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, a Democrat from Schenectady and a co-sponsor of the bill, said public confidence has been shaken. “I think the trust is just not there anymore because of these studies and what we’ve been finding,” Santabarbara said. “So this bill is a step that we can take.”
Santabarbara said the new disclosure requirements could lead to products being removed from store shelves. “As a result of this bill, there may be products that get pulled off the shelf because the transparency is going to be there,” he said.
He also said he hopes the approach becomes more widespread beyond state-by-state action. “It’s really something as I said should be done universally,” Santabarbara said, adding, “The FDA really needs to do something that seems to be a universal standard.”
“We know how to put good food in our bodies. But our baby should be getting the best of the best,” said Olivia.
According to Consumer Reports, New York is the first state to extend these requirements to infant formula as well as baby food.