We only want the best for our babies. Given this reason, we only give them hypoallergenic products, the best natural-based things, and the healthiest and freshest food available in the market.
No matter how costly these can be as compared to other regular products, parents often consider these added costs as an opportunity to love and care for their little angels more. But, did you know that researchers have found something from most baby food, which can harm your bundle of joy in the long run?
A group of researchers named Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF) was able to test about 168 baby foods most commonly consumed by the market at present. The results revealed how one out of four products was contaminated with heavy metals, which can be toxic to the body ones ingested especially for a baby. In total, about 95% of the products have chemicals such as mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium.
These four toxic chemicals can have adverse effects in the body especially once consumed in large amounts. Effects of mercury can lead to dehydration and massive blood loss from diarrhea, kidney failure, and even death. Once consumed, lead can also cause risks in the kid's brain development, and if left untreated can cause unconsciousness, seizures, and death.
Same with the first two metals, consuming arsenic can also pose a great risk in the body as it can cause poisoning and death. Cadmium, on the other hand, can result in flu-like symptoms, which can eventually damage the lungs, kidneys, and bones, as revealed by the United States Department of Labor.
Dr. Philip Landrigan, a pediatrician, and director of the Program in Global Public Health and the Common Good in the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society at Boston College revealed the amount of toxic metals found in the baby's food are only very small. Despite that, the effects of it can still be alarming as "low-level exposure add up, and exposures in early life are especially dangerous", Landrigan further explained.
Based on the result of the study and the risks it can pose to the health of our next generation, the expert is calling the attention of the authority to at least take immediate action. Some of the high-risk products are puffs snacks, infant rice cereal, teething biscuits, rice-based snacks, and fruit juices.
Because of this recent study, experts advise parents to just give their kids less processed foods and more organic and fresh goods instead, according to Health Line. Though these organic goods can still be prone to metals through its exposure to soil, pesticides, and other chemicals during the sowing and harvesting processes, organic and fresh goods are still less evil than processed ones.
