Do toxic metals hide in baby food sold in the US?

What's actually in it

Baby food looks simple and clean, but the ingredients can carry arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. These metals come from contaminated soil, water used for irrigation, and processing equipment. They end up in the grains, vegetables, and fruits used to make baby food.

Babies eat a lot of food relative to their body weight. Their developing brains and organs are more sensitive to toxic metals than adults'. Even small amounts can affect brain development and IQ.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Food Addit Contam Part B Surveill tested baby and young children's foods sold in the US for toxic metals. They also looked at which ingredients correlated with higher contamination levels.

Rice-based products had the highest arsenic levels. Rice absorbs arsenic from soil and water more than most other crops. Baby cereals, puffs, and teething crackers made with rice were among the worst offenders.

Foods with root vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots had higher cadmium and lead levels. These crops grow in direct contact with soil, so they absorb whatever metals are in the ground.

The study found wide variation between brands and products. Some baby foods had metal levels well below concern, while others were much higher. There's no way to tell from the label which products are contaminated, because these metals aren't listed as ingredients.