Lead Found in Baby Food, Study Says

Although it is a concern, here's also why you should not be too worried.

A study conducted by the Environmental Defense Fund found that some amounts of lead have been detected in baby food around the country, according to NBC News.

It is unclear exactly how much lead has been found or which brands are involved, but it is said to have been found in fruit juices; baby fruit juices; root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes; and cookies, such as arrowroot biscuits and teething cookies, according to Sarah Vogel, vice president of health at the EDF. 

The maximum amount of lead that is acceptable to consume is six micrograms a day, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Lead consumption cannot be avoided in some foods because “it is in the environment and [lead] cannot simply be removed from food,” according to the FDA’s website.

However, doctors say that parents should not worry about the lead levels in baby food. Maida Galvez, M.D., M.P.H., is an associate professor of environmental medicine and public health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and says that it is often difficult to identify the exact source of lead for children with low levels of exposure and to talk to their pediatricians to address any concerns.