
Written by Aparna Hari
As parents, we rely on and trust branded baby foods and consider them safe for our little ones. But did you know that such foods can actually have hidden impurities? Multiple recent research studies conducted across the US have shown that packaged baby foods contain a mix of different metals such as lead and arsenic. Arsenic in baby food is especially a cause for concern.
Heavy metals were found in 95% of baby foods tested according to a study carried out in the year 2019. Exposure to toxic heavy metals like arsenic in baby food can lead to severe health consequences such as developmental problems and cognitive impairment. Parents must take steps to minimize the risks associated with arsenic and other toxic heavy metals in baby food. So what is the impact of arsenic exposure on the health of your baby? And is there a way to minimize the risk factrs?
In This Article
Arsenic is a heavy metal that is naturally found in Earth’s crust. It is spread across water resources and the atmosphere as well. The inorganic form of arsenic is known to be quite harmful and can lead to cancers and other skin issues. Long-term exposure is also known to increase the risk of heart disease. Arsenic exposure can have quite serious consequences for pregnant women, infants, and young children.
Yes, arsenic can be harmful to babies and can lead to various health problems. Parents should know potential sources of arsenic contamination in baby food and take steps to minimize their baby’s exposure to arsenic. This can include choosing foods that are lower in arsenic, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains other than rice, and ensuring that the water used to prepare baby food is free from arsenic contamination.
Here are some of the reasons why arsenic can be bad for your munchkin.
Arsenic has many ways of sneaking into your baby’s food. Having an awareness of this can help you ensure that your baby stays protected from this contamination.
It may be impossible to completely avoid arsenic in your baby’s diet. Instead, you can reduce exposure to this metal in a few different ways.
Choosing foods like fruits, vegetables, and grains other than rice can help reduce exposure.
[Read : Giving Fruit Juice For Babies]
Ensuring that the water used to prepare baby food is free from arsenic contamination is also important. If using tap water to prepare baby food, check the local water supply for arsenic contamination.
Avoiding processed baby foods that have higher levels of arsenic is a good way to minimize arsenic contamination. You can feed your baby safe and low-arsenic-risk foods instead.
Parents should know many baby foods and snacks contain toxic heavy metals, like arsenic, that can harm their baby’s health. To minimize exposure to these substances, parents should choose foods with lower levels of arsenic, avoid processed baby foods, be mindful of the water supply and rice milk, and take necessary steps to ensure their baby’s health and well-being.
[Read : Rice Milk For Babies And Toddlers]
There is no safe level of exposure. Although FDA has established a guidance level of 100 parts per billion for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal to help reduce exposure, it’s not a safety limit. Many organizations are now petitioning to reduce this level to a much lower level in order to help safeguard the health of future generations.
Most baby foods that contain rice may have high levels of arsenic. This is due to the groundwater having high levels of arsenic and the nature of rice to readily absorb this chemical. Foods that have high levels of arsenic include rice-based baby foods, processed baby foods such as puffs and teething biscuits made with rice or rice flour, and even some organic baby foods.
Read Also: Can You Give Packaged Juices To Your Baby?
Her experience in impactful writing combined with her background in Home Sciences makes Aparna the perfect candidate for content writing in the pregnancy and parenting niche.Read more.
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