NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the discovery of lead and other heavy metals in organic baby food produced by Holle Baby Foods and issued a cease and desist Thursday for advertising that says otherwise.
Lab testing carried out by the attorney general’s office found the formula, which markets itself as “lead free,” contained lead, arsenic and a heavy metal called cadmium.
Infant lead exposure can cause brain and nervous system damage and disrupt learning, speech development and behavioral growth, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The CDC says arsenic can irritate a baby’s stomach and intestines, damage blood vessels and reduce nerve function, while cadmium can damage a baby’s kidneys and cause bones to become brittle.
“New York parents should never have to second guess the safety of the products meant for their children,” said James. “These false or misleading claims prey upon parents’ concerns about the continuing problem of toxic heavy metals in their children’s food, and they must end.”
James’ office tested three products from Holle Baby Foods in November of 2021, “Carrot Cat Fruit and Veggie Puree,” “Zebra Beet Fruit Puree and Veggie Juice” and “Veggie Bunny Veggie Puree.” The tests detected one or more of the heavy metals in all eighteen samples tested.
The Food and Drug Administration does not place lead, arsenic or cadmium limits on baby food, though the agency has proposed rules that could change that.
The heavy metal levels in the samples tested do not exceed European Union maximums, which allows Swiss-based Holle to continue production legally.
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