|
 The FDA stopped short of committing to issuing new regulations,
however.
The agency said it was moving ahead with a "plan aimed at reducing
toxic elements in foods for babies and young children to levels as
low as is reasonably achievable."
But it said testing shows "children are not at an immediate health
risk from exposure to toxic elements in foods" and noted toxic
elements are present in the environment and can enter the food
supply through soil, water or air.
The report by the U.S. House of Representatives oversight
subcommittee on economic and consumer policy urged U.S. regulators
to set maximum levels of toxic heavy metals permitted in baby foods
and require manufacturers to test finished products, not just
ingredients, for heavy metals.
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, who chaired the panel, said
lawmakers were "disappointed that FDA failed to commit to
establishing concrete rules to remove toxic heavy metals from all
baby foods. It highlights the need for Congress to pass legislation
with strict standards and timelines."
[to top of second column] |
 The FDA has declared that
inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury
are dangerous, particularly to infants and
children. The FDA in August finalized guidance
to industry, setting an action level of 100
parts per billion inorganic arsenic in infant
rice cereal.
The FDA said on Friday it plans to finalize
draft guidance on reducing inorganic arsenic in
apple juice and publish draft guidance that will
establish action levels for lead in juices.
Baby food companies say they are working to
reducing levels of metals that occur naturally
in food products.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Sonya
Hepinstall)
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