03/03/2021
Heavy metals in many baby foods?! As parents we could drive ourselves crazy trying to figure out all the potential toxins our little ones are exposed to... pollution, pesticides, parabens, etc etc. Avoiding all toxins all the time is nearly impossible in today’s world. For the most part, babies are pretty resilient. But the more we can minimize toxins, the better.
Recently there was a study/national investigation by Healthy Babies Bright Futures, which found 95 percent of baby foods tested contain toxic chemicals that lower babies’ IQ - including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury.😱 Even the organic brands contained these heavy metals. As the study notes: “Heavy metals are naturally occurring in soil and water and are found at elevated levels in fields polluted by pesticides, contaminated fertilizer, airborne contaminants and industrial operations. Food crops uptake these metals naturally. Leafy greens and root crops like carrots and sweet potatoes retain more than most other types of fruits and vegetables. How the food is processed may also affect the levels. Organic standards do not address these contaminants, and foods beyond the baby food aisle are equally affected.”
Though they state in the article that making homemade purées doesn’t take care of the problem, they do note that the way the foods are processed may contribute. By making my own organic baby food, I feel it is one small thing I can control, which makes me feel better about what I’m feeding my baby.
