Baby Food Lawsuit Filed Over Autism risk Unsafe Levels of Toxic Heavy Metals Linked To Risk of Autism, Developmental Disorders

According to allegations raised in a recently filed class action lawsuit, high levels of toxic heavy metals in certain baby food products may increase the risk of children developing autism and other long-term neurological problems.

The complaint (PDF) was filed in the District Court of Clark County Nevada on March 2, presenting claims against Beech-Nut Nutrition Inc., Hain Celestial Group Inc., Gerber Products Co. Inc. and Nurture, Inc., as well as two local grocery store, indicating that baby food products were sold with high levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury.

Plaintiffs include the families of seven minors diagnosed with autism and neurological development disorders, which the parents claim were caused by the long term exposure to heavy metals found in baby food products. Although the products were often touted as “safe and organic” by the manufacturers, recent data suggests that they may actually contain dangerous and toxic metals.

The case is part of a growing number of baby food autism lawsuits filed in courts nationwide since the release of a U.S. Congressional Report on February 4, which highlighted internal documents and testing data that found baby food products manufactured by Gerber (d/b/a Nestlé Nutrition), Beech-Nut Nutrition, Plum and others contain dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals, which are toxic to infants and may result in permanent neurological damage.

Each of the named plaintiffs indicate that their children were diagnosed with various levels of autism, after they unknowingly exposed their children to toxic chemicals that have been linked to the onset of the neurological disorder. All the while, the manufacturers intentionally deceived consumers with false and deceitful advertising practices to increase profits.

Findings from the U.S. Congressional report are outlined in the complaint, indicating that some baby foods contain more than 91 times the maximum level of arsenic allowed in bottled water; 177 times the allowable levels of lead, 69 times the limits on cadmium, and five times the levels of allowable mercury.

According to previous studies and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings, all four of the toxic heavy metals found in the baby food have been linked to deleterious effects for children, including health, behavioral, cognitive, and development issues, which may cause decreased standardized test scores, academic achievement, and the development of other diseases such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders.

The complaint argues that consumers rely upon the representations made by manufactures to make conscious healthy choices for their children. However, the manufacturers have intentionally omitted labeling high levels of dangerous heavy metals for years to persuade consumers to purchase their products.

While heavy metals do occur naturally in some foods, like rice and vegetables, the amounts may be increased by adding enzymes, vitamins and mineral mixes. Companies often do that, leading to dangerous levels of heavy metals in the final products.

However, long term exposure of heavy metals poses serious health concerns for children. Lead exposure at any level is extremely unsafe, and prior studies have linked heavy metal exposure to behavioral impairments, brain damage, damage to the nervous system, seizures, growth impairments, and even death.