As New Report Highlights Unacceptable Lead Levels in Baby Food, Booker Introduces Legislation to Force FDA to Take Action

Press Release

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) is introducing legislation to force the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action to strengthen federal lead limits for baby food and fruit juice as the Environmental Defense Fund releases a new report finding that a decade's worth of FDA data showed detectable levels of lead present in 20 percent of baby food samples.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Lead exposure can seriously harm children's health and cause damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavioral problems, and hearing and speech problems.

"Lead is dangerous for anyone, but particularly for children. Kids can suffer a lifetime of health and developmental problems if exposed to lead, which is why we must do everything possible to eliminate this health threat," Booker said. "It's unacceptable that lead is so prevalent in the food we give our children, and this bill will force the FDA to act quickly to strengthen lead limits for baby food, fruit juice, and other foods commonly consumed by children."

Booker's bill, the Limiting Lead Exposure & Advancing Detection (LEAD) in Children's Foods Act, would:

Strengthen lead limits for food, including baby foods.

Strengthen lead limits for fruit juice.

Require the FDA to establish the new health-based limits within one year.

Require the FDA to report to Congress on lead exposure in baby foods, fruit juices, and other foods often consumed by infants and children.

EDF's full report is available at the following link: www.edf.org/lead-in-food

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