Baby Foods and Heavy Metals

I’m sure you’ve read the headlines about a variety of heavy metals being found in baby foods. But before you throw out all the baby food, do some reading and see how to minimize risks for your child. I say minimize, because there is no way to completely eliminate our exposures to heavy metals, unless you plan on being the first family to colonize Mars!

I am linking some helpful resources below, but here are some basic facts:

• Heavy metals are found in a variety of foods. They leach into the food from the ground as they are grown. Some common examples are rice, apples, and carrots.
• While there is still more for us to learn, the levels of these metals found in foods are relatively low.
• We can lower the overall exposure to heavy metals by making sure our water and homes are lead-free, and avoiding smoking or vaping around children.
• It is important to have a variety of foods and grains in our children’s diets. For example, give your child a variety of fruits instead of apple juice. Skip the rice cereal, and opt for oatmeal cereal and other grains.

Check out these links for more information.