FDA, HHS announce plans to increase testing for heavy metals, contaminates in baby formula

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

Published 5:28 p.m. ET March 19, 2025


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will buckle down on testing baby formulas for contaminates including heavy metals, the agency announced this week.

In a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday,HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Sara Brenner said both agencies were committed to increasing testing for the presence of substances like arsenic, lead and mercury, which are all considered heavy metals. The plan is called "Operation Stork Speed."

"The FDA will use all resources and authorities at its disposal to make sure infant formula products are safe and wholesome for the families and children who rely on them,” Kennedy, who promised a review of this topic on his road to becoming health secretary, said in the statement. Kennedy met with major formula manufacturers including the makers of Enfamil and Similac before issuing the announcement, HHS said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

While some such contaminates are naturally occurring in the environment and are not inherently toxic in certain doses, a Consumer Reports investigation also published Tuesday raised alarms when it found several tested baby formulas to contain potentially harmful levels of lead and arsenic as well as per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), bisphenol A (BPA) and Acrylamide.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/03/19/baby-formula-heavy-metals-testing/82550441007/

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Muskrat laid off a whole pile of people so not sure who they think is going to do all this. I know back in the day doing heavy metals, the sample eventually went into the muffle furnace to get a dry ash, and then goes from that to diluting/extracting, and running it through some instrument.

[SupportSanity]

1. When they announce something that sounds like it should be good for America, I get alarmed.

What will happen when their testing finds loads of contaminants?
Take product off the market so there is nothing on the shelves?
Wasn't there a shortage of baby food when Trump was in office?

[BumRushDaShow]

2. "What will happen when their testing finds loads of contaminants? "

Unfortunately since only a tiny handful of companies even make formula (like Abbott), when you have contamination (the last time it was due to bacteria), then it will produce shortages like we saw a few years ago. There needs to be more companies encouraged to make this product.