Parents across the country are filing mass torts against baby food companies like Gerber for concealing high levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury (heavy metals that are harmful to infants) in their products. These toxic metals can disrupt children’s neurological and developmental growth and have been associated with autism, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Since reports about high levels of toxic heavy metals have been released, parents have filed suit against Beech-Nut, Earth’s Best Organic, HappyBABY, Happy Family Organics, Gerber, Parent’s Choice, Plum Organics, and Sprout Organic Foods alleging failure to warn and autism and ADHD diagnoses.
If your child has been diagnosed with autism or ADHD after consuming contaminated baby food, Kwartler Manus, LLC may be able to help. We have more than 40 years of combined experience, and we are available 24/7 to discuss your needs.
Call Kwartler Manus, LLC at (267) 457-5570 to find out what our firm can do for you.
In February 2021, the House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy identified heavy metals in baby food from 7 of the largest baby food manufacturers in the United States.
The brands included:
While most of these manufacturers complied with government testing, some did not. Later in the year, Beech-Nut also recalled infant rice cereal due to high levels of arsenic and committed to being a fully rice-free brand across its full product portfolio.
Shockingly, many contaminated baby food products are still on the market with the potential to harm children.
The government report released on February 4, 2021, is called “Baby Foods Are Tainted with Dangerous Levels of Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury.” These are the heavy metals of concern in baby food, and all of them can be toxic to infant health.
Although the FDA does not limit heavy metals in baby food, it does have limits for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in drinking water. The government-tested baby food samples had more than 177 times the acceptable levels of lead, 91 times the acceptable levels of arsenic, 69 times the levels of cadmium, and 5 times the acceptable levels of mercury.
No amount of these chemicals is safe for children. According to Consumer Reports:
“There is no safe level of heavy metals, so the goal should be to have no measurable levels of any heavy metal in baby and toddler foods.”
If parents knew about the presence of heavy metals in baby food, they would never have paid top dollar for premium brands. By failing to alert consumers of baby food contaminants, Gerber and other manufacturers placed profits over people. Worse, some children have suffered the effects of consuming baby food filled with heavy metals.
If your child has been diagnosed with autism or ADHD, file a toxic baby food lawsuit in Philadelphia with Kwartler Manus, LLC.
Several studies have linked inorganic arsenic and lead to autism and ADHD. Mercury has also been linked to autism and other neurodevelopment disorders. Although heavy metals are naturally found on the planet, and children are exposed to heavy metals every day, the baby food in question contained problematic levels of heavy metals.
Infant rice cereals, for example, are responsible for half of the inorganic arsenic exposure among infants and toddlers.
Limiting babies’ exposure to heavy metal is key because “lead, cadmium, and arsenic have deleterious effects on the developing infant mind, brain, cardiovascular system, and immune system.” The toxins are associated with lower IQs, behavioral problems, autism, ADHD, and even an increased risk of skin and bladder cancer.
As a parent, you want the best for your child or children. When you purchase food, snacks, and juice for them to consume, you expect the products to be safe.
Gerber and other manufacturers did not have your child’s best interest in mind when they failed to test their foods for heavy metals. Exposure to these foods could have caused developmental problems for your child.
If your child has been diagnosed with autism or ADHD after consuming the baby food we have discussed on this page, we urge you to contact Kwartler Manus, LLC as soon as possible.
We are ready to see your case all the way through as soon as you call us at (267) 457-5570 or contact us online.
