Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Calls on HHS Secretary Kennedy to Provide Updated Plan to Combat Toxic Heavy Metals in Baby Food
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) wrote to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging an updated briefing on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s strategy for reducing heavy metals in baby food. In 2021, while serving as chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, Congressman Krishnamoorthi led an investigation that found common baby food products contained heavy metal levels up to 177 times higher than those allowed in drinking water. This briefing request comes as the FDA has repeatedly delayed its deadlines for regulating heavy metals, leaving Illinois families worried about the safety of popular baby food brands.
“In the four years since my investigation, FDA has failed to promptly finalize action levels for toxic heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, in foods intended for infants and young children,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi wrote in his letter to Sec. Kennedy. “Finalizing guidance to manufacturers on heavy metals is only the first step in a long road to removing neurotoxins from baby food. I call on you to urge the future FDA commissioner to take on baby food safety as one of the agency’s top priorities.”
Although the FDA recently established new guidelines for lead levels in processed baby food, it has not addressed other harmful metals like mercury and arsenic. Moreover, these guidelines are not enforceable and do not apply to other common foods for young children, such as teething biscuits and cereals, even though these products have also been found to contain high levels of lead. Additionally, the FDA’s Closer to Zero program, established after Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s investigation, set deadlines for action that the agency has repeatedly missed over the past four years.
As the Ranking Member of the Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services, Congressman Krishnamoorthi has consistently pushed for stronger measures by both the FDA and Congress to reduce heavy metals in baby food. In May 2024, Congressman Krishnamoorthi introduced the bicameral Baby Food Safety Act with Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) in the House, as well as with Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in the Senate. Congressman Krishnamoorthi is working to reintroduce this legislation in the coming weeks.
The letter sent to Sec. Kennedy is available here.