Divine Aleru is an accomplished biochemist and researcher with a specialized background in environmental toxicology, focusing on the impacts of heavy metals on human health. With deep-rooted expertise in microbiome signatures analysis, Divine seamlessly blends rigorous scientific training with her passion for deciphering the intricate relationships between environmental exposures and the human microbiome. Her career is distinguished by a commitment to advancing integrative health interventions, leveraging cutting-edge microbiome research to illuminate how toxic metals shape biological systems. Driven by curiosity and innovation, Divine is dedicated to translating complex environmental findings into actionable insights that improve individual and public health outcomes. 
Divine Aleru is an accomplished biochemist and researcher with a specialized background in environmental toxicology, focusing on the impacts of heavy metals on human health. With deep-rooted expertise in microbiome signatures analysis, Divine seamlessly blends rigorous scientific training with her passion for deciphering the intricate relationships between environmental exposures and the human microbiome. Her career is distinguished by a commitment to advancing integrative health interventions, leveraging cutting-edge microbiome research to illuminate how toxic metals shape biological systems. Driven by curiosity and innovation, Divine is dedicated to translating complex environmental findings into actionable insights that improve individual and public health outcomes. What was issued?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a study to assess dietary exposures of infants and young children to lead and cadmium from foods. This study, spanning from 2018 to 2020, utilized data from the Total Diet Study (TDS) to estimate the concentrations of these heavy metals in foods commonly consumed by infants and children. The study employed a semi-probabilistic method to map food consumption data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to contamination data. The findings are part of ongoing FDA efforts to mitigate toxic element exposure through its “Closer to Zero” (C2Z) initiative, which focuses on reducing lead and cadmium exposure from food sources.
Who is affected?
The primary stakeholders affected by the findings of this study include infants aged 0–11 months, particularly those not consuming human milk, and children aged 1–6 years. The food industry, particularly producers of baby food, infant formula, grains, dairy, vegetables, and fruit, is also significantly impacted. Regulatory bodies, public health officials, and food certifiers are responsible for overseeing the reduction of lead and cadmium in the food supply to ensure public health safety. Consumers, especially parents and caregivers of young children, are directly affected by the study’s implications on food safety standards.
Most important findings
The FDA’s study provides important insights into dietary exposures to lead and cadmium. The results show that dietary lead exposure among infants not consuming human milk ranges from 1.3 µg/day on average, with the 90th percentile reaching 2.4 µg/day. For children aged 1–6 years, the average exposure is slightly higher at 1.5 µg/day, with the 90th percentile at 2.4 µg/day. For cadmium, the average exposure for infants is 0.19 µg/kg body weight/day, while for children, it is 0.43 µg/kg body weight/day. The processed baby food and infant formula group was identified as the major source of both lead and cadmium exposure among infants. Other significant contributors to exposure in children included grains/baking, dairy, and fruit for lead, and grains/baking and vegetables for cadmium. These exposures were compared to FDA’s current toxicological reference levels (TRL) and interim reference levels (IRL) for lead, and the findings highlight that exposures in infants and children are below or slightly exceed the reference levels.
Key implications
The findings from the study have critical implications for the food industry and public health. For industry stakeholders, particularly manufacturers of baby food and infant formula, the need to lower lead and cadmium concentrations in products is emphasized. As the FDA continues to advance its C2Z initiative, regulatory measures may include tighter limits on toxic metals in food, with a focus on high-risk groups such as infants and young children. The study also points to the importance of improving agricultural and food processing practices to reduce contamination at the source. From a public health perspective, the study underscores the ongoing risk that even low-level exposures to lead and cadmium pose to young children, potentially leading to long-term health issues such as neurodevelopmental delays and kidney dysfunction.
Citation
Hoffman-Pennesi, D., Winfield, S., Gavelek, A., Santillana Farakos, S. M., & Spungen, J. (2024). Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018–2020. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, 41(11), 1454–1479. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2024.2396910
Lead is a neurotoxic heavy metal with no safe exposure level. It contaminates food, consumer goods and drinking water, causing cognitive deficits, birth defects and cardiovascular disease. HMTC’s rigorous lead testing applies ALARA principles to protect infants and consumers and to prepare brands for tightening regulations.
Cadmium is a persistent heavy metal that accumulates in kidneys and bones. Dietary sources include cereals, cocoa, shellfish and vegetables, while smokers and industrial workers receive higher exposures. Studies link cadmium to kidney dysfunction, bone fractures and cancer.
Heavy metals are high-density elements that accumulate in the body and environment, disrupting biological processes. Lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, nickel, tin, aluminum, and chromium are of greatest concern due to persistence, bioaccumulation, and health risks, making them central to the HMTC program’s safety standards.
