Is There Arsenic in My Baby Formula?

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Necessary News

Monday, February 20, 2012

by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, Executive Director/CEO, Healthy Child Healthy World

Last week’s findings of arsenic in organic brown rice syrup may be even more frightening to parents than last year’s discovery of the cancer-causing substance in apple juice. That’s because organic brown rice syrup is ubiquitous in natural products—it’s used as a substitute for high fructose corn syrup.

MNN reported on the Dartmouth study, which found concentrations of arsenic of 23 to 128 parts per billion (ppb)—12 times the Environmental Protection Agency's safe drinking water limit of 10 ppb—in some cereal bars containing rice. (The EPA has not set safety levels for arsenic in food.)

High levels—as much as 20 times the EPA’s water safety level—were found in two organic infant formulas that contained organic brown rice syrup, leading Dr. Richard Besser, ABC’s Chief Health and Medical Editor, to recommend parents avoid formulas that contain the substance.

Where is the arsenic coming from? According to Environmental Health Perspectives, the arsenic is traced to residual pesticides, especially in areas of the southern United States where 1.6% of the world’s rice is grown; rice grown in these areas contain 1.76 times more arsenic than rice grown in California, for example.

We checked in with our team for advice on takeaways from the study; our advisors recommended that parents be aware, but not unnecessarily alarmed.

“This new study underlines the need for the FDA to set safety levels for arsenic in food and beverages,” said Dr. Alan Greene, author of the “Raising Baby Green” book series, founder of the White-Out movement and a Healthy Child Board Member. “For now, I recommend that rice not be the primary source of calories for babies, and that whatever rice they do get comes primarily from California and/or is tested for arsenic. Avoid conventional rice from countries still using arsenical pesticides. And, of course, I will welcome safety limits for arsenic in food and beverages that take the health of babies and pregnant women into account."

At press time, two organic baby formula manufacturers released statements. Earth’s Best wrote that their formulas “do not contain brown rice syrup.” Nature’s One said that they depend on a “qualified, world renowned, third-party, independent lab to test arsenic levels in their organic brown rice syrup. Their testing results report undetectable amounts of arsenic at laboratory testing limits.”

Finally, because arsenic is present in our water supply in varying amounts, especially if you are using powdered formula mixed with water to meet your infant’s nutritional needs, you may want to check levels in your area. The Environmental Working Group provides a valuable resource where you can also find out which water filters can remove arsenic.

Posted by Cheryl on 02/25/2012 at 09:07 AM

Hi,

My son was taking the Nature’s One Baby’s Only formula for over a year. I am very worried about the potential complications from this and consulted with a holistic dr who ordered bloodwork done to test the levels of arsenic in his body.

I’d be interested in hearing how other parents in the same boat are dealing with this information.

I still don’t understand how Nature’s One formula is not recalled yet. I find it very disturbing that it is still available.

Posted by MommyInTheKnow on 02/24/2012 at 01:23 PM

Hi HCHW - I applaud the effort to keep the public in the know, but this article could use some clarification. You wrote above “High levels—as much as 20 times the EPA’s water safety level—were found in two organic infant formulas that contained organic brown rice syrup” - That is not exactly true. Nature’s One is called a TODDLER FORMULA because it does not meet the FDA nutritional guidelines and standards to be called an “Infant formula” - specifically, brown rice syrup is NOT allowed in ‘infant formula’.
I think discussing the topic of infant formulas, ingreidents and differences could make a whole article in and of itself, but I wanted to bring this one point to your attention.

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