Many of you may start your day by going to the
grocery store. If you have an infant
you’re shopping for you may head to the baby food section where you place fruit
juice, Gerber Lil’ Entrees and applesauce pouches in the cart for your
youngsters. You check the back label for the nutrition facts to ensure none of
what you’re buying is too high in sugar or sodium. However, there is one
ingredient not found on the label. Here’s a hint: its symbol on the periodic
table is Pb and it used to be found in wooden pencils you used as a kid.
You guessed it, lead.
As you probably know, babies and young children
are especially at risk for experiencing the
effects from exposure. There is no safe level of lead exposure and kids, partly
due to their teething behaviors and their having a much higher absorption rate
for lead than adults. A recent study by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)
found out of 57 types of food designated by the FDA as baby food in the study,
lead was in one or more of the 52 samples. Some of the most contaminated foods
included the following: Fruit juice, root vegetables, and teething biscuits.
It should be noted that lead exposure cannot be
100% eliminated because of lead is naturally occurring and would be impossible
to pinpoint its exact source for every bit of produced food, and none of the
aforementioned samples contained levels above FDA recommendations. However, here is a
list of some of the important places to keep a look out for:
Soil: You see lots of it on a
daily basis. From your backyard to your home garden, soil is everywhere. If you
choose to grow your own foods, it is important to keep in mind that highly
industrial areas are at a higher risk due to auto emissions. Vegetables do not
readily absorb lead, which means the risk of lead poisoning from this source is
low and children are more likely to become poisoned by consuming the soil
directly. However, root vegetables—carrots and lettuce—as noted above are known
to contain higher lead concentrations if the soil exceeds 300 ppm. Concerned your soil
might be contaminated? Check here.
Food Containers: According to Consumer Reports, pesticides and
chemicals are concentrated in processed baby foods. Contact the companies
behind your favorite brands to learn about their processing and how much lead
they allow in their products (click here and here). Additionally, you
should be careful of the types of containers you store your food in. Older
china dishes and some imported food containers may contain traces of lead,
though the risk of exposure is very low. Learn about FDA regulations for
imported foods here as well as here.
Water: As you are aware, lead
from pipes can leak into your water source. If you are giving your child formula, keep in mind contaminated tap water can put your child at risk
because of the high amounts of water they are consuming. Private wells older
than 20 years old can also be a source of
lead. Lead service lines to your home
and your own faucets and fixture are the primary sources of lead that may be in
your water. The EPA provides tips to ensure
the water that makes it into your home is safe for you and your little one(s)
to consume. If you are breastfeeding, follow these recommendations for water consumption
to reduce the risk of lead transfer to your child(ren).
Keeping your child(ren) safe is the number one
priority for parents and caregivers. If you are concerned about lead levels in
your home or the food you are buying, don’t hesitate to reach out to companies
and/or your local health department
for more information.
