FDA to increase testing for heavy metals in infant formula, RFK Jr. says

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will step up its testing for heavy metals in infant formula and review nutrients required in the products used to feed millions of babies, the agency and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on Tuesday.

“The FDA will use all resources and authorities at its disposal to make sure infant formula products are safe and wholesome for the families and children who rely on them,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement.

Kennedy earlier met with the chief executives of companies including Similac maker Abbott Laboratories and Reckitt Benckiser, maker of Enfamil, according to a social media post from HHS.

The FDA would embark on a comprehensive look at the nutrients used in infant formula and increase testing for heavy metals and other contaminants, HHS said in its statement. 

The development came as Consumer Reports shared results on Tuesday that found found potentially harmful levels of arsenic and lead in some infant formula products. Still, most of the baby formula tested by the consumer advocacy group did not contain concerning amounts of contaminants and chemicals. 

“We look forward to seeing the details of how they intend to implement the plan, and we hope the FDA is providing adequate resources and staffing to actually follow through with these promises,” Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said in a statement.

Families around the U.S. faced major shortages of baby formula in 2022 after FDA inspections found bacteria linked to two infant deaths in Abbott’s plant in Sturgis, Michigan. The factory’s temporary closure reduced supply, causing issues for the millions of parents who rely on formula. 

About one in five newborns in the U.S. start on formula, providing a crucial source of nutrition in an infant’s first months of life.