Two-thirds of baby food in the United States tested positive for arsenic and other dangerous toxins, a study claims.
Also, 80 percent of baby formula analyzed had levels of arsenic in the mixture.
The Clean Label Project, a non-profit organization advocating for transparent product labels in Denver, tested more than 500 baby foods sold in United States stores.
The researchers found that 65 percent tested positive for arsenic, including products from popular brands such as Gerber, Parent’s Choice and Sprout.
Arsenic is a metalloid and experts warn it can affect a child’s motor skills, cognition and heart as they are growing.
The Clean Label Product tested baby food to find out which ones had high levels of toxins in them. Sprout’s Organic Quinoa Puffs (left) scored one star out of five for heavy metals. Parent’s Choice Little Puffs scored two stars for heavy metals
Gerber’s was one of the more popular brands that had a lot of products test high for toxins such as arsenic and lead. These toxins can impact a child’s development and their heart. Gerber’s 3rd Foods Chicken Itty-Bitty Noodle Dinner with Lil’ Bits scored one star for arsenic
The Clean Label Product tested the baby food products on what contained arsenic, lead and other dangerous chemicals.
Each product was then ranked from one to five stars based on the toxins and how nutritious the product was for a child.
The study showed that not only did more than half the products have arsenic, but also 35 percent tested positive for lead and 58 percent for cadmium.
These chemicals can pose potential risks for the infants when consumed such as neurological deficiencies and problems to the immune system.
Rice-based products such as puffs are most likely to contain arsenic, according to the study.
The US Food and Drug Administration has previously looked into the impact of arsenic on rice in food products such as rice-based baby cereals.
In April 2016, the administration proposed a limit of 100 parts per billion of inorganic arsenic in rice cereal for infants.
This was proposed to potentially eliminate risk that an infant could consume large amounts of the dangerous metalloid.
The European Food and Safety Authority has already enforced limitations of inorganic arsenic in rice, but the US is still in the discussion phase of the possible regulation.
The study also found that 60 percent of products that were labeled as ‘BPA free’ actually tested positive for bisphenol A, an industrial chemical used to make some plastics.
This chemical can seep into food and cause an increased risk of a child developing high blood pressure and disrupt the hormones.
Experts warn that some products that have this ‘BPA free’ label could still have traces that have seeped into the food.
They recommend for people to pay attention to what products they are buying for their infants to prevent these toxins from being consumed.
Daily Mail Online reached out to Gerber, and the company said the study is causing unnecessary alarm and all their food meets US government standards.
They said in a statement: ‘We regularly test our foods and formulas and work closely with our suppliers and farmers to find ways to do even better.’
Daily Mail Online has contacted all the other companies for a comment.
Some products are labeled to be ‘BPA free’ but actually contain the chemicals in the food. Experts warn that this mislabeling can be damaging to a child’s health. Happy Baby Organic Rice Cakes scored one star for BPA’s. O Organics State 2 Organic Apple Apricot scored five stars for BPA’s but two for heavy metals such as arsenic