Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
Toxic elements in baby and young children's foods in the US and correlation to ingredients
Charles A Barber1, Marc Boyer1, Jake A Carter1
1United States Food and Drug Administration, Human Foods Program, College Park, Maryland, USA.
Abstract:
A non-targeted convenience survey consisting of 566 ready-to-eat baby foods was conducted in 2023 to determine the levels of total arsenic, cadmium, total mercury, lead and thallium. Data collection expanded the scope of food categories tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021, prioritising foods commonly eaten by babies and young children, while also including selected foods consumed by pregnant women and nursing mothers. Quality control was performed according to the specific food matrix category and target analyte. Arsenic speciation analysis was completed on a subset of foods and products containing fish were analysed for both inorganic arsenic and methylmercury. Arsenic levels were associated with rice-containing foods, lead with root vegetable ingredients such as sweet potatoes and thallium with brassica vegetables such as kale. The predictor model indicated no association between cadmium and any of the individual ingredients. Also, additional data are needed to support predictors for mercury.
Related Concept Videos
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
Periodic Table Provides Information...
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
Toxic Reactions: Overview
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Teratogenicity
Drug Regulation

