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Krishnamoorthi pushes ban on heavy metals in baby food
The bill stems from Krishnamoorthi’s 2021 congressional investigation, which found arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury in baby food.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 23, Apr 2026
- 01:17 EDT
- 18
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi / Reuters
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi introduced the “Baby Food Safety Act of 2026” on April 22, seeking to legislate enforceable limits on toxic heavy metals in infant and toddler food and strengthen testing and transparency requirements for manufacturers.
Co-sponsored by seven of his Democratic peers, including Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Melanie Stansbury, along with Democratic Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the legislation builds on Krishnamoorthi’s congressional investigation that uncovered dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals in leading baby food products and helped spur federal action on the issue.
The investigation revealed dangerous levels of inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury in baby food.
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After the 2021 investigation, Krishnamoorthi accused baby food manufacturers of “knowingly sell(ing) baby food containing high levels of toxic heavy metals.”
Krishnamoorthi’s new bill seeks to place enforceable limits on toxic heavy metals; mandate that the FDA regularly define and redefine such limits; require routine sampling and testing by manufacturers; require manufacturers to maintain records of such testing; and strengthen FDA enforcement authority and oversight of both domestic and imported baby food products.
Speaking about the need for the act, Krishnamoorthi said in a statement, “For years, parents have been forced to navigate a marketplace where too many baby foods contain dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals, and the federal government has not acted quickly or effectively to fix it.”
He continued, “Our legislation sets clear, enforceable limits, puts real deadlines on the FDA, and requires rigorous testing and transparency from manufacturers. Parents must be able to trust that the food they’re feeding their children is safe.”
Krishnamoorthi also endorsed his bill on X and described it as a step up from Biden administration regulations, noting that his bill, if passed, would “permanently remove those metals from baby foods.”
Parents shouldn’t have to wonder if baby food contains dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals. My investigation helped trigger the first federal limits—now I’m reintroducing the Baby Food Safety Act to strengthen standards and enforcement. pic.twitter.com/rYfzpvSu2D
— Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) April 22, 2026
The bill is currently awaiting a vote in the Republican-controlled Energy and Commerce Committee.
Expressing gratitude for public support, he said, “Thanks to your advocacy and mine and all of us, we have convinced Republicans and, of course, all of us Democrats to take up this very important issue in this powerful committee.”
He continued, “I’m hopeful that we can advance this to the Senate and actually make this law.”
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