As part of its "Closer to Zero" initiative to reduce toxic elements like lead in foods, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration unveiled new guidelines for lead in baby food this week. However, the move has faced criticism from health advocates, including Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF), an NGO dedicated to minimizing heavy metal exposure in food.
The current FDA guidelines set action levels at 10 parts per billion (ppb) for fruits, vegetables (excluding single-ingredient root vegetables), mixtures (including grain- and meat-based blends), yogurts, custards, puddings, and single-ingredient meats; 20 ppb for single-ingredient root vegetables; and 20 ppb for dry infant cereals.
