Toxic Baby Food Metal Poisoning Lawsuit
Baby food sold by Gerber, Beech-Nut, Plum and others may be toxic and contain dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury metals. Lawsuits are being pursued for ADHD and autism from toxic baby foods.
- Two 2021 U.S. House Oversight Committee reports revealed Nurture, Hain, Beech-Nut, and Gerber, Campbell, Sprout Foods, Inc. and Walmart sold baby food containing high amounts of toxic heavy metals.
- In January 2023, a Bloomberg Law report found many popular baby food brands contain dangerous levels of arsenic, lead and cadmium.
- Despite known risks of autism and severe ADHD from heavy metals, manufacturers marketed baby foods containing toxic substances as safe for infants and children.
- 2022 Update: Toxic baby food lawsuits are being pursued by families nationwide
- CONTACT A TOXIC BABY FOOD LAWYER TO MAKE A CLAIM
Overview of Baby Food Lawsuits
Following the release of a Congressional report in early 2021 and a Bloomberg Law report in January 2023, it has been confirmed that many baby food products manufactured and sold by Gerber, Beech-Nut Nutrition, Plum, Hain, Campbell, Walmart, Sprout and other companies contain dangerous levels of heavy metals.
The products have been found to contain one or more heavy metals including arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury that may increase the risk of autism or ADHD in children.
Product liability lawyers are pursuing toxic baby food lawsuits for families of children who were fed the impacted brands for at least one year, and developed any of the following injuries:
- Autism diagnosed between ages of 2 and 14
- Severe ADHD diagnosed between ages of 8 and 14
Learn More About
Baby Food Lawsuits
Toxic baby food sold by Gerber, Beech-Nut and other manufacturers contain dangerous levels of heavy metals, which may be the cause of autism and severe ADHD for children.
See If You Qualify For CompensationBaby Food Problems and Side Effects
In February 2021, a House Oversight Committee report (PDF) revealed that many leading baby food products sold in recent years contain high amounts of toxic heavy metals, including inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, which may increase the risk of childhood development problems, such as autism spectrum disorders and severe ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder).
In September 2021, a follow up report (PDF) released by the same Congressional subcommittee outlined more evidence about the problems with arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury metals in toxic baby food, as lawmakers and consumer advocates call for new limits to be put in place and to require manufacturers to warn parents about the risks.
Despite the calls to action, a January 2023 investigative report published by Bloomberg Law confirmed toxic metals were still heavily present in many popular baby food products, indicating manufacturers failed to take corrective action after the contamination risks were known.
Currently, the FDA does not set allowable limits on the presence of toxic heavy metals in baby food products. However, when compared to limits in bottled water and drinking water, most of the leading brands of baby food products may exceed those limits, sometimes by hundreds of times the recommended amounts.
These heavy metals are known to be toxic and could potentially cause developmental disorders when consistently fed to infants, who are the most vulnerable to their metal poisoning side effects.
In January 2023, the FDA proposed new action levels for lead in baby food products, as part of its Close to Zero program, which seeks to eliminate toxic heavy metals from baby food,
Which manufacturers sold toxic baby food?
- Gerber
- Beach Nut
- Nurture (Happy Family Organics and HappyBABY)
- Earth’s Best Organic (Hain Celestial)
- Plum Organics (Campbell Soup)
- Walmart Parent’s Choice
- Sprout Foods and Sprout Organic Food
- Little Spoon
- Yumi Organic Baby Food
Despite years of evidence about the problems, it appears that leading manufacturers continued to use ingredients that sometimes contain hundreds or even thousands of times the recommended amounts of arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury that are allowed in bottled water. In addition, they often fail to test finished products and knowingly underestimate the levels of these heavy metals that are present in their baby food products.
History of Baby Food Toxic Metal Poisoning Lawsuits
A number of reports and studies have warned about the high amounts of these toxic metal in baby food products sold nationwide. This includes a secret slideshow presentation sent to the FDA by someone within Hain, which revealed the company knowingly was low-balling the amount of arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury in its products, and revealed the company was only testing ingredients and not finished products.
2021 Congressional Subcommittee Findings
In February 2021, a report by staffers in the U.S. House of Representatives confirmed that leading brands of baby food products are tainted with sometimes extremely high levels of toxic metals, which can cause permanent IQ decreases and an increased risk of criminal activity and antisocial behavior in children doe to their effects on brain function.
The report warned that even with the findings, only four of the seven leading manufacturers complied with Congress’s request for data, and raised concerns that baby food products made by those who didn’t participate, including Walmart, Sprout and Campbell’s, may contain even higher levels of the toxic heavy metals.
Among those who did reply, the findings alarmed lawmakers. For example, Beech-Nut used ingredients which contained as high as 913.4 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic in some of their products. The maximum allowable amount of arsenic in bottled water is 10 ppb. It also used ingredients containing 887 ppb of lead, which also has a 5 ppb limit in bottled water. The company’s internal standards allowed the highest levels of arsenic, cadmium and lead of any company tested.
2023 Toxic Baby Food Report
On January 5, 2023, Bloomberg Law released the results of an investigative report which tested 33 popular baby food products for several heavy metals known to increase autism and ADHD risks in infant and children.
Bloomberg researchers purchased 33 baby food products in July 2022, and had an accredited laboratory test the products for levels of organic arsenic, inorganic arsenic, cadmium, and lead. The report found all 33 baby food products tested positive for at least one toxic heavy metal, while 32 of the 33 contained at least two of the toxic heavy metals.
Some of the baby food that tested positive for multiple heavy metal contaminates included;
Plum Organics Superpuffs – Blueberry with Purple Sweet Potato
- 90 ppb inorganic Arsenic
- 90 ppb cadmium
- 90 ppb lead
Gerber Grain and Grow Banana Puffs
- 60 ppb inorganic arsenic
- 90 ppb cadmium
Walmart (Parent’s Choice) Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks
- 30 ppb inorganic Arsenic
- 50 ppb lead
Happy Baby Organics Sweet Potato & Carrot Puffs
- 58 ppb inorganic Arsenic
- 11 ppb cadmium
- 11 ppb lead
Since the reports were released, a growing number of toxic baby food lawsuits have been filed in courts nationwide. However, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) rejected a request to have the complaints consolidated before one judge for pretrial procedures in June, meaning each case is currently being handled as an individual lawsuit.
Baby Food Settlements for Autism and ADHD
As a result of the failure to thoroughly test, limit and report the levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury in baby food products, financial compensation may be available to parents who fed these products to their children through a baby food lawsuit.
Financial compensation may also be available for parents of children who consumed one of the brands for at least a year and developed autism or ADHD and were diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 14.
If information about the levels of toxic heavy metal had been provided, and the potential health risks, many parents would have likely chosen another baby food to feed to their vulnerable infants, which may have avoided numerous developmental disorders.
Baby Food Autism and ADHD Lawsuits
Was your child diagnosed with problems after being fed toxic baby food? Settlement benefits may be available.
26 Comments
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KathyAugust 29, 2023 at 7:20 pm
Son born in 1978. And ate beechnut and Gerber baby foods only. He developed OCD at an early age and later diagnosed with schizophrenia which are both considered neorological conditions. Lives at home with me as caretaker. Applied for mental disability but was denied. I'm at my wits end
TheresaAugust 11, 2023 at 9:38 am
I have a daughter who was born in 1995 has ADHD and ate Gerbers baby food. She still struggles today with it. She was around 7 or 8 when diagnosed.
DiannaJune 17, 2023 at 4:59 pm
I have four children that have autism and or severe ADHD.
CathyJanuary 31, 2023 at 5:03 pm
My son ate Gerber and beechnut and was diagnosed with severe ADHD around age 5 to 7. He was put on medication after a few years of schooling where they could not contain him. They said he was to disrupting to the class and couldn't focus or sit still. He was going to be kicked out of kindergarten due to severe ADHD. He and I went through hell all his life. He is 38 now and still has problems.[Show More]My son ate Gerber and beechnut and was diagnosed with severe ADHD around age 5 to 7. He was put on medication after a few years of schooling where they could not contain him. They said he was to disrupting to the class and couldn't focus or sit still. He was going to be kicked out of kindergarten due to severe ADHD. He and I went through hell all his life. He is 38 now and still has problems. He can't focus, not hold a job. Good job baby food companies.
SherryJanuary 17, 2023 at 5:24 pm
I have two children one born in 1981 1985 they both ate Gerber and Beechnut baby food they were diagnosed with ADHD at around age of 8 and 11. Still have problems till today with ADHD.
JasonJanuary 16, 2023 at 8:57 pm
Me & my son have consumed Gerber and other brands & cereal my son was diagnosed at a young age which affected preschool and schooling and he 19 now I'm 45 and can't keep a job and go thought a lot of problem I shouldn't be going though so I say things alot 2 these company's 4 that it sucks so bad we both still suffering mental issue due 2 this.
DanaDecember 29, 2022 at 1:16 am
I am 36 I got kicked out of 3 preschools and then taking at 3 for testing I had several chemical imbalances and they put me on ritilan age 4 I had to see Dr's weekly couldn't go to school unless medicated and I had to be under shrinks care for all that duration up till I was 16 or so I ate baby food all the time cause my stomach was messed up from pills I had to take for my adhd and then mood stab[Show More]I am 36 I got kicked out of 3 preschools and then taking at 3 for testing I had several chemical imbalances and they put me on ritilan age 4 I had to see Dr's weekly couldn't go to school unless medicated and I had to be under shrinks care for all that duration up till I was 16 or so I ate baby food all the time cause my stomach was messed up from pills I had to take for my adhd and then mood stabilizers and anxiety and I ate the stuff even as an adult at times
AmandaDecember 27, 2022 at 6:55 pm
My son was born in 2006. He consumed Gerber and Parent's Choice baby food/ cereal as an infant and toddler. By 2nd grade he was diagnosed with ADHD and continues to take medication at the age of 16 for ADHD.
PamDecember 15, 2022 at 8:40 pm
My grandson is going to be 20 next year and he has been given baby food at Walmart and Beechnut and Walmart’s brand all his baby life and now he still lives at home and he has ADHD because he won’t go anywhere and he doesn’t have any friends and he tried to get a job but he couldn’t do it because of his depression and problems! I’m sure he needs help and probably because of the food he was given[Show More]My grandson is going to be 20 next year and he has been given baby food at Walmart and Beechnut and Walmart’s brand all his baby life and now he still lives at home and he has ADHD because he won’t go anywhere and he doesn’t have any friends and he tried to get a job but he couldn’t do it because of his depression and problems! I’m sure he needs help and probably because of the food he was given! I just think these companies need to take responsibility for what they done
JessicaDecember 14, 2022 at 4:15 am
My child took gerber as a child which he got diagnosed having adhd at the age of 5 i am not understand this but every post i readed there children got diagnosed with adhd at the age of 5 due to gerber its not rigth for mothers or the child to suffer because these kids couldn't having a normal life due to this
JenniferDecember 13, 2022 at 4:02 am
Both my son's were diagnosed with ADHD at a very young age. I fed both Gerber baby food. My 34 year old was diagnosed at 5 years old and so was my 27 year old who has it really bad even now and the doctor has added sever social anxiety and depression problems.
AndreaDecember 11, 2022 at 2:16 pm
My son Patrick is 39 yrs old. He ate Gerber and beechnut babyfood with teething biscuits and rice cereal by Gerber also. He was diagnosed with adhd at age 4 or 5. We tried diet first then we tried ritilan by his doctor. Worked for awhile we were told he would outgrow adhd. Nope he still has it
GinnyDecember 11, 2022 at 9:21 am
I wasn’t able to breast feed past 2 mos. my two older have adhd born 1985 & 6, my youngest died w leukemia at 7 (1993). Two of my nephews adhd and asbergers and my grandson and cousins kid .. what gives man??! I knew there had to be something going on .. baby food, we’ll that explains a lot .. Arsenic, really?!!
JenNovember 30, 2022 at 3:12 pm
well i was adopted so i definitely wasnt breast fed. Diagnosed ADHD at 15... but had it my whole life and still suffer at 45. It's a problem, mostly for concentration and sitting still.
MichaelNovember 22, 2022 at 12:08 pm
My son was diagnosed with severe ADHD It affects him severely in his everyday life now. Thanks a lot Gerber.
KathrynNovember 21, 2022 at 12:10 pm
My child iss 22 and has added really bad I fed all my children gerber food
IsabellaNovember 18, 2022 at 2:38 am
I was born 1995 and was diagnosed at age 7 for adhd and then at 16 diagnosed with bpd with adhd. I ate Gerber baby food for years. Adhd and Bpd has made my life difficult. Thanks Gerber
HillaryNovember 16, 2022 at 9:03 pm
My brother's grandson has severe ADHD and it could from the 👶 food he was fed as a child he can't stay still for any length of time, please contact me at 832 244 0305 and not email for maximum communication
JaimieNovember 16, 2022 at 8:25 pm
I have 7 kids who all ate these foods and who's food was subsidized in part by WIC
AprilNovember 15, 2022 at 3:28 pm
My son was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of five
LizaNovember 13, 2022 at 11:50 am
My son was born in 2012 he’s been extremely hyper for years he was finally diagnosed this year with adhd. He grew up on Gerber everything and beech nut as well.
MaryNovember 9, 2022 at 6:10 pm
My son has ADHD, he was born in 1984 and was diagnosed at age 5. He ate both Beechnut, Gerber food teething biscuits, cereal and juice.
DeborahNovember 4, 2022 at 5:05 pm
I also have a son who was born in 1987 and was diagnosed around age 3 with autism. He ate both Gerber and beechnut baby food along with rice cereal and the teething biscuits. He will never be able to live independently, and I have cared for him all his life. I am 69 now and absolutely terrified of what will happen to him when I am no longer here.
DaisyOctober 28, 2022 at 8:24 pm
My son is name Jonathan Sanchez And at the age 7 he was in 2 second grade was diagnosed with adhd and did have an iep in school all through senior year high school
jackiOctober 25, 2022 at 11:51 am
my son has adhd he was born in 1981 and was diagnosed with it when he was 6 years old and ate these brands of baby food gerber, beechnut
ChristinaJuly 7, 2022 at 8:42 pm
Scary!