Reducing Heavy Metals in Your Baby's Food

Heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic are found in soil and water. The amounts are different depending on where the food is grown. Plants absorb these metals as they grow, which is how they end up in food.

Some may also get into food when it’s processed.

There's no "safe" amount of heavy metals. The best way to protect your baby is to feed them many different foods.

What You Can Do

• Give your family as many different foods as you can.
• Serve meals with protein, fat, carbs, and different fruits and vegetables.
• Limit juice. Offer water instead of fruit or vegetable juice.
• Rinse your rice well. Rice can have more heavy metals than other grains. Cook with 6-10x extra water, and drain off the extra water before eating.
• Choose fewer rice-based snacks and cereals. Purchase oat cereal or multigrain cereals instead.
• Make baby food at home. By doing this, you can reduce some heavy metal exposure and save money.

Organic Foods Aren’t Lower in Heavy Metals

They are still grown in soil, so heavy metals get into the plants as they grow.