BALTIMORE, MD—A coalition of attorneys general, including Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, are calling on the the Food & Drug Administration to take action on toxic metals found in baby food.

A letter (PDF) sent to the FDA by the coalition brings attention to recent childhood lead poisoning linked to recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches made by WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis and raises concerns about the safety of baby food.

The letter argues that the FDA should require testing of all finished food products for lead and other toxic metals. The coalition also cites recent widespread childhood lead poisoning cases tied to these products.

Despite a yearslong history of lead poisoning as a public health concern, the FDA has not taken any action to require testing of baby food for toxic metals. The FDA has, however, proposed a timeline to do so, but the timeline has been extended indefinitely.

The letter from the coalition of attorneys general calls on the FDA to reconsider its timeline and take action on the matter of lead in baby food more quickly. The letter also calls on the FDA to establish clear guidance for parents and manufacturers regarding the safety of baby food.

The letter argues that parents trust companies to provide safe and healthy products for their children. In light of recent lead poisoning cases, the letter emphasizes the importance of requiring the FDA to take action to protect children from harmful contaminants.

Consumers who have purchased these recalled products and may still have them in their homes should not feed them to children or anyone else. Instead, they should be safely discarded by carefully opening each pouch and emptying the contents into the garbage so that others cannot eat them.

In sending this letter to FDA, Attorney General Brown joins the Attorneys General of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.