(News Channel 9) – A new investigation shows that when you feed your baby, you may also be serving up mega-doses of lead, arsenic, and mercury. A national investigation finds 95 percent of baby foods tested contain toxic chemicals that lower babies’ IQ. The study, commissioned by Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF), shows that of the 168 baby foods from major manufacturers in the U.S., 95 percent contained lead, 73 percent contained arsenic, 75 percent contained cadmium, and 32 percent contained mercury.
The worst offenders were baby foods made with rice, sweet potatoes, and fruit juices. Rice cereal is the top source of arsenic in a baby’s diet because it is often used as a first food; rice puffs and other rice flour snacks also contain high levels. HBBF suggests an alternative of rice-free snacks, oatmeal, and multigrain cereals. “Even in the trace amounts found in food, these contaminants can alter the developing brain and erode a child’s IQ. The impacts add up with each meal or snack a baby eats,” the report said. READ MORE
