Detection of arsenic and lead in many types of formula milk in the US

Radio CBS News On March 4, a report said that Consumer Reports evaluated 49 products including powdered milk, liquid milk, milk from alternative proteins and milk for allergic children. The results showed that more than half of the samples contained “worrying” levels of pollutants.

Ms. Sana Mujahid, Manager of Food Safety Research and Testing at Consumer Reports, said: “Repeated exposure to these pollutants can lead to negative health consequences for infants. Babies have small bodies and their organ systems are still in the process of complete development. Notably, milk is not the only source of exposure, these substances can also come from the water used to mix milk.”

Although the formula milk market is strictly controlled, experts say it is still difficult for the product to avoid impacts from environmental pollution or the production process. Currently, the US has no regulations limiting the concentration of contaminants in formula milk, and manufacturers are not required to test for their presence. Consumer Reports noted that the milks on the test list were still safe to consume, although low levels of contaminant residue were detected.

“We use the most stringent protection standards to assess risks, to provide information to help parents make the best choices for their children’s early nutrition,” the organization explains.
In an investigation last year, Consumer Reports also discovered lead and arsenic in some formula milk. At that time, food management agencies pledged to strengthen supervision and tighten testing procedures for this product line.

Two corporations that hold about half of the formula milk market share in the US, Abbott Nutrition and Mead Johnson, quickly rejected the above risks. Abbott representative affirmed that the company strictly complies with heavy metal regulations of the European Union and Canada and ensures the product is absolutely safe. Mead Johnson also announced that the company always applies rigorous testing procedures, implements all measures to reduce impurities and meets all international quality standards. Manufacturers argue that trace concentrations of heavy metals exist naturally in the environment and food supply chain.

Seeking to fill the regulatory gap, Senator Gary Peters last year introduced the Protecting Formula Milk from Pollution Act. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee just passed this bill in January. The bill requires manufacturers to notify the FDA within 24 hours of when they discover a product is contaminated, mislabeled or tainted. While waiting for the FDA to issue a new safety threshold, medical experts recommend that parents consult their pediatrician about the type of milk they are using. Families absolutely do not make their own formula at home and only use clean, standard water to prepare milk for their children.