What’s Really in Your Baby’s Formula? A New Report Has Some Concerning Answers

On Wednesday, Consumer Reports released its latest study on heavy metal in infant formulas, and the results are not exactly what you’d hope. 

In the report, the nonprofit reviewed 41 different powdered infant formulas (including well-established brands like Enfamil and Similac, new startups, popular store brands, and imported options from Europe and Australia) and found potentially harmful levels of arsenic and lead. They also found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in nearly all infant formulas tested, with one product containing both bisphenol A (BPA) and acrylamide. 

“When exposed to high levels of these contaminants long-term, they’re known to cause cognitive issues and organ system failure in infants,” says Sana Mujahid, PhD, Consumer Reports’s manager of food safety research and testing.

That said, the results are not completely grim — most formulas did not contain concerning amounts of contaminants and chemicals. “Our study is actually mostly good news, because we tested 41 products, and the majority of those products are in our ‘top choices’ and ‘good choices’ categories, based on safety criteria,” Mujahid says. 

Here’s a closer look at the report’s results and tips on keeping your little ones safe.

What did the report find?

Infant formula is one of the most regulated products on the food market, but that doesn’t mean it’s spared from environmental pollution or manufacturing contamination. Key findings include:

Arsenic: Most formulas had low arsenic levels that are “below levels of concern,” Consumer Reports notes. However, eight formulas were over the determined risk level, with two more close to the cut off. The highest levels of inorganic arsenic were found in Abbott Nutrition’s EleCare Hypoallergenic at 19.7 parts per billion (ppb) and the second highest in Abbott’s Similac Alimentum with 15.1 ppb. In high levels, arsenic increases cancer risk for all ages.

Lead: Lead was found at some level in 34 out of the 41 formulas tested. Results ranged from 1.2 ppb to 4.2 ppb, with the highest level found in Neocate Hypoallergenic formula. Fortunately, none of the tested formulas had levels exceeding the Maximum Allowable Dose Level (a metric Consumer Reports chose to ensure child safety), though 18 of the formulas had lead levels that made up 50 to 100 percent of the maximum allowable dose. Constant lead exposure has neurological effects on baby and child development. 

PFAS: Many of the PFAS compounds found in the tested formulas are “less widely understood,” according to the report, so more research is needed to definitively identify which brands contain harmful levels. That said, several formulas did contain PFOS, one of the oldest PFAS compounds that does not break down in the environment and can increase cancer risk, delay child development, and interfere with natural hormones.

BPA and Acrylamide: BPA and acrylamide were found in only one formula: Enfamil’s Nutramigen, which is typically recommended as a cow’s milk alternative for babies who are sensitive to milk protein. BPA is known to leach out of plastic, with potentially harmful effects on the brain and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children, while acrylamide is a likely carcinogen (a substance that increases the risk of developing cancer) that originates from a chemical reaction during manufacturing processes.  

Mercury and Cadmium: Consumer Reports tested for two other heavy metals: mercury and cadmium. Mercury is known to cause impaired cognitive development, motor skill deficit, and speech difficulties, but was not detected in any of the tested formulas. Cadmium is linked to increased cancer risk but was found in such low levels that experts do not find it concerning, Consumer Reports notes.

Infant Formula Contaminant Test Results

Consumer Reports tested 41 types of formula, made by 14 companies. Here’s what the nonprofit found: