The FDA released draft guidelines Tuesday that detail the maximum amount of lead that can be found in baby food products, and is part of the organization's Closer to Zero initiative aiming to reduce childhood exposure to harmful contaminants in food.
"Today's announcement to set tougher standards for toxic metals in baby foods is important progress by the FDA," Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said in a The new guidance — which is not mandatory for food manufacturers — outlines the following amounts as being acceptable in baby food for children under the age of...
"...our Closer to Zero action plan outlines other actions we will take to further reduce lead in food and our expectation is that industry will strive for continual reductions over time.
Jane Houlihan, the group's research director, told CBS News,"As it stands, it appears that FDA is choosing round numbers it thinks the industry can easily meet. But there are plenty of actions companies can take to lower levels, from testing and choosing fields with lower soil lead levels, to adjusting soil additives and choosing crop varieties that accumulate less lead."
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