Baby Food Safety Act: Mandatory Testing and Limits for Toxic Metals
This Act introduces strict new safety rules for food intended for infants and toddlers (up to 24 months), requiring manufacturers to test products for toxic elements like lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic. Citizens will benefit from increased confidence in the safety of their children's food, as the FDA will establish legally binding limits for these contaminants. Manufacturers must implement detailed control, sampling, and testing programs, and food exceeding these limits will be deemed adulterated.
Key points
Mandatory Limits for Toxic Metals: The FDA must establish maximum allowable levels for lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic in infant/toddler food and in fruit/vegetable purees or juices.
Increased Safety for Children: Manufacturers must implement control and testing programs for final products at least quarterly to ensure compliance with new limits, directly protecting the health of the youngest consumers.
Strengthened FDA Oversight: The agency gains authority to request testing records from manufacturers in advance or in lieu of on-site inspections, and the power to mandate recalls for products exceeding contaminant limits.
Environmental Monitoring: Manufacturers of infant and toddler food (excluding formula) must establish environmental monitoring programs to verify sanitation controls and prevent pathogen exposure during production.
Expired
Citizen Poll