Most parents think the baby food they buy is safe for their kids. But recently finding baby food tainted with lead, arsenic, and dangerous pesticides has become more common than we would like. These contaminants can dramatically influence the cognitive development and health of a child.
Let’s review what these contaminants are, how they impact growing children, and what parents can do to make the food their child eats as safe as possible.
Common Contaminants in Baby Food
Contaminations in baby food are more pervasive than most parents realize. Contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, and food additives, all present different risks.
Heavy Metals
According to the Learning Disabilities Association of America, 94% of baby food tested contains heavy metals that can cause immense harm to kid’s brains. Lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are neurotoxins. These heavy metals are present in many baby foods like rice-based cereals or purees.
These metals collect in the body and can affect brain development. They can harm developing brains and are linked to learning disabilities and ADHD. Infants are particularly vulnerable as their bodies absorb the metals more readily than adults.
Pesticides
Tests done on baby food found around 9 pesticides, including captan, acetamiprid, and fludioxonil. These pesticides are likely carcinogenic, may cause nervous system damage, harm the immune system, and have other ill effects.
Pesticides from conventional farming can remain on fruits and vegetables used for baby food. The most pesticide-laden produce are strawberries, apples, and spinach – which are often found in baby foods.
According to TorHoerman Law, these chemicals may chronically affect developing nervous systems, causing severe health issues including cancer. They may also lead to long-range behavioral problems.
Additives and Preservatives
Food additives and preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors are sometimes added to extend shelf life and appearance. Although these additives are considered safe in small amounts, cumulative exposure may present a risk, especially in early development.
The Relationship Between Contaminants and Cognitive Development.
Exposure in early life to contaminants can permanently impair cognitive functions.
Lead, for instance, interferes with synapse development in the brain and causes harm to the central nervous system. According to a study, lead exposure can cause numerous adverse effects on the central nervous system. Some of the most profound effects are a decline in intelligence quotient and learning disabilities in children.
Arsenic-containing contaminants disrupt neurological pathways that regulate memory and learning. Early exposure to arsenic can increase the risk of developmental delay in children.
This toxic baby food lawsuit clearly tells us that the problem is much bigger than we think. There are currently 52 cases filed against manufacturers of baby food and more may follow. Anyone whose child was diagnosed with autism or other disorders after using baby food contaminated with heavy metals is eligible to join this lawsuit.
The combined effects of these pollutants may go beyond academic performance by affecting how children manage their emotions and interact with others emotionally and socially. This highlights the importance of recognizing the main issues and taking action to reduce impact.
What’s important to know is how contaminants get into baby food. Let’s try to understand this.
Sources of Contaminants in Baby Food
Soil and Water Contamination
Arsenic and other heavy metals occur naturally in soil and water. Crops like rice take in these metals and they build up in the finished product. Also, conventional farming uses pesticides to control pests and raise yields. These chemicals often remain on produce used for baby food. Not to mention, industrial pollution and bad waste management add to this problem.
Manufacturing Processes
Contamination can take place during the manufacturing, processing, and packaging processes of baby food production. For example, machinery used in food processing may leach metals such as lead or cadmium if it is outdated, not maintained well, or built using unsafe materials. These metals can find their way into the food during grinding, mixing, or other stages of production.
According to a study, the contents of 40% of packages tested were detected to have adipic acid-diethylene glycol, a highly toxic contaminant found in packaging material. During packaging, certain plastics or cans lined with harmful chemicals can leave toxins in the food over time. This is a high possibility especially when exposed to heat or extended storage periods.
Additionally, if the facilities are not up to standards, external contaminants like heavy metals in water supplies or chemicals used for cleaning can contaminate the products.