New parents always want the best for their little bundles of joy. From clothing, to toys, to nursery decor, parents always choose the best to start their little one’s off on the right foot. And of course, when it comes to choosing the right baby food, parents always want to make sure that they pick the perfect food for their baby’s growing needs.
Well, a recent study, by Healthy Babies Bright Futures, may make choosing the right food a little harder as results show that 95 percent of baby foods tested contain toxic chemicals, such as lead and arsenic, which can be harmful to infants’ brain development and health.
Healthy Babies Bright Futures is a collaboration of nonprofits and doctors working to help stop early childhood exposure to neurotoxins. The group examined 168 foods from 61 different producers, and found that either arsenic, cadmium, lead, or mercury were present in all except nine.
“Exposures in early life are especially dangerous,” Dr. Philip Landrigan, a pediatrician and director of the global public health program at Boston College, said in a statement. “The cumulative impact of exposures is what makes this a significant concern that demands action.”
Even a small amount of these poisonous metals can cause erosion of a child’s IQ and brain development alterations. So what is it exactly in the baby food that is driving this problem to an all-time crisis in the US? The answer-rice.
Charlotte Brody, a registered nurse who is national director of Healthy Babies Bright Futures, says that almost all baby food is made with rice that has tested positive for these toxins. She goes on to state that, “our testing suggests, [if there is rice in the food or snack, then]. there’s a problem.”
How can parents protect there children? Dr. Philip Landrigan suggests that,”Parents can protect their babies today by choosing nutritious and affordable alternatives to the most contaminated foods,” Landrigan said. “To protect the babies of tomorrow, the food companies and the FDA need to step up and do more.”
Want to learn more about this growing problem or how you can help make an impact in protecting the nutritional future of our children? Click here to see exactly what the Healthy Babies Bright Futures has in the works.
