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“Arsenic in 80% of infant formula,” finds study by Clean Label Project
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Friday, 27 October, 2017, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Denver
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About 80 per cent of infant formula contains arsenic. This was one of the findings of Clean Label Project’s recent study, titled 2017 Infant Formula and Baby Food Study.
It added that almost one-third of the products exceeded at least one state or federal regulatory limit set for safety.
Another finding was that 36 per cent of baby food samples had detectable levels of lead.
It also stated that some products labelled certified organic had higher amounts of mercury and lead than conventional baby foods.
Since it was about the foods fed to the most vulnerable population in the United States, families across the country were concerned.
On every visit to grocery stores across America, parents were faced with a number of dilemmas - “What should a baby be fed? What food is the best?”
Claims by marketing departments of food companies included natural, organic, pure and non-genetically-modified organism (GMO).
They were doing an effective job at selling comfort and security to concerned parents.
In fact, ingredient decks and nutrition panels haven’t done much to inform consumers about the product quality.
Clean Label Project opined that what was not on the label was sometimes what was most important.
It tested 60-plus brands and 500 products of the best-selling infant formulae and baby foods in the United States.
The scope of testing and review included nutritional superiority like antioxidant activity, which is important for overall health.
In addition, it included industrial and environmental contaminants, including arsenic, lead, mercury, acrylamides, pesticides and mycotoxins.
These are linked to cancer and are believe to do reproductive harm and brain damage.
Clean Label Project wanted the Baby Food 2017 study to be a wake-up call for both brands and parents.
“It is time the former steps up and takes ownership for what is in their offerings, be it good or bad,” it stated.
“However, some are already doing the right thing, often without public notice or recognition of the fact,” Clean Label Project added.
“As for the latter, one of their key roles is to be their children’s advocate and help companies change the infant formula and baby food status quo,” it said.
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