Baby food sold in California just got a lot cleaner.
California Assembly Bill AB 899 will now require that baby food manufacturers regularly test their products for specific toxic elements (e.g., arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury) and to disclose the levels of those elements to consumers on brand websites.
Further, dietary supplements marketed to children aged two and under fall within the scope of AB 899. This groundbreaking step aims to provide transparency about potential heavy metal contamination in children’s food. The testing requirements portion of the law went into effect retroactively on January 1, 2024, and the heavy metal disclosure requirements will be enforced beginning January 1, 2025.
“California has taken bold steps. This new legislation gives parents and families of young children greater discernment about the foods they feed their babies. We hope more states will soon follow California’s efforts to ensure food safety for our next generations,” said Betsy Lehrfeld, President, Citizens for Health (CFH).
A History of Advocacy for “Free-From” Baby Foods
At Citizens for Health we applaud the efforts of the Clean Label Project which was instrumental in pushing California to make clean labeling a cornerstone of our collective fight for food safety. Our founder, James S. Turner (1940-2022), had been an advocate for baby foods free-from potentially harmful ingredients. Nearly three decades ago, Turner co-authored Making Your Own Baby Food, making a strong case against processed baby foods. The book offers insights and suggestions for feeding your baby foods without harmful sugars, salt, MSG and starch. (Copies are available online from various retailers.)
Navigating Clean Label Requirements
California’s new testing requirements will require additional steps of baby food makers and dietary supplement manufacturers. To better equip industry stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed to implement testing protocols, understand disclosure requirements, and navigate compliance efficiently, Clean Label Project and natural products industry advocacy association, United Natural Products Association (UNPA), have joined forces to offer webinars, workshops, and resource sharing.
Contact UNPA at info@unpa.com or info@CleanLabelProject.org to learn more.
