The dairy ingredients used in our Earths Best Organic Infant Formula are from cows fed and raised according to organic regulations which include grass fed and organic feed. Selecting the best lawyer for your case is an important decision to make. Lead: Hain used ingredients containing as much as 352 ppb lead. Baby food manufacturers should be required by FDA to test their finished products for toxic heavy metals, not just their ingredients. The FDA must set standards and regulate this industry much more closely, starting now. The first two numbers in the code represent the day, the next three letters the month, and the next two numbers the year. Are there heavy metals in your baby food? Heavy metals exposure at a young age can also lead to increased risk of future criminal and antisocial behavior. New report finds toxic heavy metals in popular baby foods. Manufacturers knowingly sell these products to unsuspecting parents, in spite of internal company standards and test results, and without any warning labeling whatsoever, says the conclusion section of the report. Our rigorous internal standards and testing procedures ensure Earths Best products meet or exceed the current federal guidelines. You may wish to consult with your childs health care provider regarding the use of this product and any dietary concerns. Hains recklessness and callous disregard for the health of young children is truly staggering. All Earths Best organic infant formulas meet infant feeding requirements and are made without GMO ingredients. One heavy metal in particular, inorganic arsenic, was repeatedly found to be present at 28 percent to 93 percent higher levels than estimated.. Small amounts of these metals can be absorbed by food as it is grown. Why Are Heavy Metals in Earths Best Baby Food? Money spent on health care bills related to your childs diagnosis or diagnoses (this includes money already spent and future costs of care). For optimal growth and development, the FDA requires infant formulas to contain a certain mix of fats, and proteins as well as vitamins and minerals. Any letters and/or numbers following the date code are used for our tracking purposes. No, Earths Best Organic Infant Formulas are not vegan. attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Earths Best Organic Lawsuit | Toxic Heavy Metals. Over the last decade advocates and scientists have brought this to the attention of the Food and Drug Administration, subcommittee Chair Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) told The Washington Post. For products containing dairy, how are the cows treated and fed? Studies have concluded that arsenic exposure has a significant negative effect on neurodevelopment in children. This negative effect is most pronounced in Full Scale IQ, and more specifically, in verbal and performance domains as well as memory. Beech-Nut routinely used high-arsenic additives that tested over 300 ppb arsenic to address product characteristics such as crumb softness.. Earths Best products were covered in that report, along with the products of others in our industry. Voluntary Phase-Out of Toxic Ingredients: Manufacturers should voluntarily find substitutes for ingredients that are high in toxic heavy metals, or phase out products that have high amounts of ingredients that frequently test high in toxic heavy metals, such as rice. Share with The Post: Whats one way youve felt the impact of inflation? Where do you source the ingredients used in your Earths Best Organic Infant Cereals? The Food and Drug Administration has declared that inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury have no established health benefit and lead to illness, impairment, and in high doses, death.. Punitive damagesexemplary damages awarded at the court's discretion when a defendants actions are particularly harmfulcan be worth several times more than the compensatory damages in a case. For the companies that didnt participate, it raises the concern that they might possess information that indicates the toxic metals in their foods might be even higher than their competitors.. The report also inaccurately characterized a meeting with the FDA," Shallow said. The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, Committee on Oversight and Reform, published a report in February of 2021. Loss of earnings if a parent has to stop work to take care of their child. Is there BPA/BPS in your product packaging? One goal is to restore the publics trust. In a lot of cases, these therapies are needed for many years. Fill out the baby food case evaluation. It is the first organic gentle formula available. What is the difference between Earths Best Organic Infant Sensitivity Formula and Earths Best Organic Gentle Formula? Parents may be eligible to file a lawsuit against Hain Celestial, Inc. and/or other baby food companies if their child developed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after consuming substantial quantities of Earths Best Organic baby foods. And even when baby foods tested over companies internal limits for these heavy metals, they were sold anyway. Heavy metals are naturally occurring and exist in the soil, air and water all around us. All manufacturing facilities for Hain Celestials products employ good manufacturing processes and procedures to prevent allergen cross-contact. The program includes background on Noah Cantabranas case as well as interviews with Noahs mother, Melissa Cantabrana, and Baum Hedlund baby food lawyer Pedram Esfandiary. If you meet the criteria, we will contact you to let you know that you qualify for a case. The levels of heavy metals found in the Earths Best Organic formula were within the allowable levels for bottled water. Over 25% of the products Nurture tested before sale contained over 100 ppb inorganic arsenic. Both formulas meet FDA requirements for infant nutrition, contain no genetically modified ingredients, are made without prohibited synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and are produced with milk from grass and grain fed cows not treated with artificial growth hormones or antibiotics. The testing data shows that Hain used at least 24 ingredients that contained more than 100 ppb of arsenic. The level should be set to protect babies against the neurological effects of toxic heavy metals. Meeting with the FDA did what the regulatory process is supposed to: collaboratively drive improvements that benefit the consumer. Nevertheless, Hain routinely exceeded its internal policies, using ingredients containing 309 ppb arsenic and 353 ppb lead. Gerber used high-arsenic ingredients, using 67 batches of rice flour that had tested over 90 ppb inorganic arsenic. Cell carrier privacy settings to change now, Corporations on the front lines of the economy say cracks are forming, Toddlers and technology: What every parent should decide early. The report, requested in November 2019, reviewed four toxic heavy metals: inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury. Hain Celestial Group, Inc. owns and sells baby food products under the Earths Best Organic brand. Most law firms taking on the baby food companies like Hain, Gerber, Walmart, and others offer free and confidential case evaluations. That is not the whole story, however, as evidenced by the fact that numerous baby food products on store shelves do not contain arsenic, lead, cadmium, or mercury that come close to the levels observed in the government report. The report also found high levels of lead, arsenic and cadmium in Happy Family Organics (Nurture) baby foods. The company could have and should have made it a priority to source safer ingredients and carefully screen their products to ensure that kids are safe from harmful toxic metals. Our lawsuit alleges that Hain knows that the high levels of heavy metals in Earths Best Organic baby foods are harmful to babies and infants, in particular. Once the products leave our distribution centers, temperature changes in the winter months or in transit can cause some jars to freeze and then thaw, which can result in unusual product texture such as separation and a dry or spongy appearance. Filing a lawsuit against Hain Celestial is your way of pursuing justice and compensation for these and other expenses. ), 53 nationally distributed beverage products recalled over microbial contamination, Company recalls sandwich wraps after government testing finds Listeria, Salmonella infections linked to peas sold at farmers markets in Wisconsin, Nearly 20,000 pounds of frozen pizza recalled over lack of federal inspection, Publishers Platform: Come on Roanoke, you can do better against hepatitis A, Publishers Platform: Colonel Colon and his League of Fecal Fighters coming soon to help make your food safer. The subcommittee urges manufacturers to make this change voluntarily, the congressional report states. The injury, pain and suffering caused to the child and family. Hain (Earths Best Organic) sold finished baby food products containing as much as 129 ppb inorganic arsenic. Gluten is the general name for the proteins in wheat, rye and barley. As of June of 2022, there has not been an Earths Best Organic recall for baby food or baby formula due to heavy metals. Sprout Foods did not respond to requests for comment. All our Earths Best products are manufactured in non-BPA packaging. The U.S. EPA allows 2 ppb mercury in drinking water. In a series of PowerPoint slides presented during the meeting, Hain confirmed that some of the ingredients in Earths Best Organic baby foods contain between 108 to 129 ppb of arsenic. Reports deep dive into the context of arsenic A corporation of that size will have a formidable legal team to defend it and limit its financial exposure. 2 on the ATSDRs list of potential health threats. The U.S. FDA allowable limits for bottled water are 10 ppb inorganic arsenic, 5 ppb lead, and 5 ppb cadmium. Some tested much higher, up to 260 ppb cadmium. Although Hain typically only tested its ingredients, not finished products, documents show that the company used many ingredients in its baby foods with as much as 309 ppb of arsenic. Are Earths Best infant formulas clinically tested to ensure bioavailability of all nutrients? manufacturing facilities follow rigid allergen control programs and good manufacturing practices to prevent products coming into contact with allergens. The baby food report found the following ingredients contained high levels of toxic metals: Organic Brown Rice Flour 309 ppb arsenic, Vitamin Pre-Mix 223 ppb arsenic, 60.5 ppb cadmium, 352 ppb lead, Organic Whole Wheat Fine Flour 160 ppb cadmium, 250 ppb lead, Organic Soft White Wheat Flour 200 ppb arsenic, Organic Barley Malt Extract 180 ppb arsenic, Organic Yellow Split Pea Powder 160 ppb arsenic, Organic Barley Flour 120 ppb arsenic, 230 ppb lead, IQF Organic Chopped Broccoli 250 ppb cadmium, Medium Grain Whole Rice 150 ppb arsenic, Organic Butternut Squash Puree 130 ppb arsenic, Organic Blueberry Puree 120 ppb arsenic, Organic Cinnamon Powder 110 ppb arsenic, 200 ppb cadmium, 230 ppb lead, Organic Date Paste 190 ppb cadmium, 220 ppb lead, Organic Brown Flax Milled 190 ppb cadmium, Organic Yellow Papaya Puree 170 ppb cadmium. Independent testing from Happy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF) found Earths Best Organic baby foods contain as much as 2.4 ppb of mercury. Nevertheless, documents show that Earths Best Organic ingredients tested at exceedingly high levels of: Arsenic: Hain used ingredients that tested as high as 309 parts per billion (ppb) arsenic. The report also inaccurately characterized a meeting with the FDA. 10940 Wilshire Blvd., We test every delivery of fruits, vegetables, rice and other ingredients for up to 255 contaminants to confirm that every shipment meets our strict quality standards.. We intend to hold them accountable for their reprehensible conduct and ensure they are punished for permanently damaging the wellbeing of our clients. Baby Food Lawyer Pedram Esfandiary. Gluten is responsible for forming the structure of dough, holding products together and leavening. Chief executive Anne Laraway said that many of the results provided as part of the 2019 report were collected based on a small portion of their portfolio, and are not representative generally of our entire range of products at-shelf today. We follow guidelines recommended by the FDA and Department of Agriculture to screen raw materials and finished products to ensure all food meets or exceeds safety and nutrition standards and to continually develop new safety standards and practices. What they did was take food off store shelves and test it. We dont have dedicated facilities/equipment so the machinery may have previously processed a product with a major allergen. 1 one among naturally occurring substances that pose a significant risk to human health, according to the Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. On Aug. 1, 2019, FDA received a secret slide presentation from Hain, the maker of Earths Best Organic baby food, which revealed that finished baby food products contain even higher levels of toxic heavy metals than estimates based on individual ingredient test results. How Do I Pick the Best Baby Food Lawyer for My Case? The bigger issue, he says, is that the FDA needs to establish legal standards for each of these heavy metals in baby foods. The subcommittees investigation showed arsenic was present in baby foods made by all responding companies: For detailed information on the findings for all four heavy metals, please see the report. Our Gentle formula contains easy-to-digest proteins including partially hydrolyzed whey. Since the baby food report came out in 2021, baby food manufacturers have said repeatedly that heavy metals in baby foods are a byproduct of the manufacturing process. FDA failed to warn consumers of risk. The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Our form takes most parents about 15 -20 minutes to complete. The non-BPA linings of our Earths Best jarred food lids are made from specially designed polyester or acrylic. In addition to meeting the FDAs standard for Gluten Free of less than 20 parts per million of gluten, all of our gluten free products are formulated without the presence of any gluten containing ingredients. Your lawyer needs to be up to the task of taking on a corporate giant and demonstrate that he or she has won cases of this magnitude. The subcommittee report says in terms of baby food there are only two FDA regulations for specific products an unenforceable draft guidance issued in July 2013, but never finalized, recommending an action level of 10 ppb for inorganic arsenic in single-strength (ready-to-drink) apple juice, and an August 2020 final guidance, setting an action level for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereals at 100 ppb. In addition, we work collaboratively with the Baby Food Council (composed of other manufacturers, the Environmental Defense Fund and Cornell University), the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture to continuously refine and improve upon the standards to ensure our products exceed safety and nutrition standards including reducing the levels of heavy metals that occur naturally in soil and water. Baby food producers may be adding ingredients into their products, such as vitamin and mineral mixes, that contain high levels of toxic heavy metals. A failure to release information during the previous presidential administration, the report states, did not help efforts to address the problems: Last year, the Trump Administration ignored new information contained in a secret industry presentation to federal regulators about toxic heavy metals in baby foods. Some of our frozen products are not organic but are all natural and non-GMO. According to the report, Beech-Nut, one of Gerbers major competitors, routinely used high-arsenic additives and ingredients containing up to 344 ppb cadmium. This case is not solely about earning maximum compensation, it is about using the law to improve food safety and prevent other children from suffering similar harm. Toxic elements, like arsenic, are present in the environment and enter the food supply through soil, water or air. For some, these services are not covered by their health care insurance policy. Although there are no maximum arsenic levels established for baby food (except for infant rice cereal, where the maximum is 100 parts per billion inorganic arsenic), the FDA has set the maximum allowable levels in bottled water at 10 ppb of inorganic arsenic. There are many variables that claimants should consider. We described the certification requirements for our private label manufacturers and explained that our private label baby food manufacturers must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including those set by the FDA, he said. Nurtures testing shows that the typical baby food product it sold contained 60 ppb inorganic arsenic. It is, however possible for cross contact with gluten containing grains to occur during planting, growing, harvesting and processing. One level for each metal should apply across all baby foods. As the parent of a child diagnosed with autism or ADHD (or both) you probably already know how expensive health care services can be. Hain Celestial purchased Earths Best in 2000. All of our manufacturing facilities follow rigid allergen control programs and we declare all allergens on our package labels. Can you make your pouches so they are recyclable? Hain specifically noted the following: Preliminary investigation indicates Vitamin/Mineral Pre-Mix may be a major contributing factor., Another PowerPoint slide noted that the company should: [e]xplore alternatives for Brown Rice ingredient to reduce risk.. Damages in an Earths Best Organic lawsuit (or lawsuits against other baby food companies listed in the 2021 government report) are calculated based on (among other things): Punitive damages against Hain Celestial and other baby food manufacturers may also be possible. By referencing the strict manufacturing process and production scheduling, does that mean that the product may have been processed on machinery that was thoroughly cleaned but previously processed one of the major allergens? We responded quickly to their questions and never refused anything requested of us. With that in mind, the subcommittee questions why Walmart (Parents Choice), Sprout Organic Foods, and Campbell (Plum Organics) would refuse to comply with the investigation. On May 24, 2022, the judge overseeing Noahs case issued a ruling in our favor that not only allows his case to proceed to trial, but it also sets the stage for a massive legal battle between thousands of children like Noah and baby food companies like Hain Celestial. According to testing conducted by Happy Babies Bright Futures, the Earths Best Organic Sensitivity DHR/ARA Infant Formula (Organic Milk-Based Powder with Iron) showed measurable heavy metal content (4.4 ppb arsenic, 1.6 ppb lead, 1.4 ppb cadmium, and .2 ppb mercury) . You may have seen a Congressional committee report examining the levels of naturally occurring heavy metals in baby food. Documents show that Hain used ingredients testing as high as 309 ppb arsenic. Has Earths Best Organic Soy Formula been discontinued? The burden for that is on the shoulders of industry, according to the report. The report released Thursday from the House Oversight Committees subcommittee on economic and consumer policy found heavy metals in rice cereals, sweet potato puree, juices and sweet snack puffs made by some of the most trusted names in baby food. The American Academy for Pediatrics, the Environmental Defense Fund and Consumer Reports have all, in some form, called for a 1 ppb level in food and drinks that babies and children consume. Hain told government officials involved in the baby food report that the company only tests its ingredients, not finished baby food products. Linda McCauley, who serves as the Dean of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University, notes that [n]o level of exposure to these metals has been shown to be safe in vulnerable infants., According to a 2014 study, babies and toddlers are exceptionally sensitive to injury caused by toxic chemicals, and several developmental processes have been shown to be highly vulnerable to chemical toxicity. The same study reported that exposure to heavy metals in early childhood can lead to untreatable and frequently permanent brain damage, which may result in reduced intelligence, as expressed in terms of lost IQ points, or disruption in behavior.. Which Hain Celestial Baby Foods Have Heavy Metals? Earths Best Organic baby foods contain dangerous amounts of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, according to a government report. Earths Best Infant Cereals predominantly uses ingredients sourced domestically. To join the Earths Best Organic lawsuit, the first thing a potential claimant needs to do is contact a baby food lawyer for a case evaluation. Hain typically only tested its ingredients, not finished products. We assure you that all of our manufacturing facilities follow robust allergen control programs that include staff training, segregation of allergen ingredients, production scheduling, and thorough cleaning and sanitation. Responding after publication, Hain spokeswoman Robin Shallow said, Earths Best has consistently supported efforts to reduce naturally occurring heavy metals from our food supply.. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Babies and toddlers are small, so they absorb more heavy metals when compared to adults. Compared to these thresholds, the test results of Earths Best Organic baby foods are staggeringly greater than the permittable levels for drinking water. Publishers platform: Tara is back on ingredient list at Revive? Beech-Nut used ingredients after they tested as high as 913.4 ppb arsenic. Our. We fully cooperated with the House Oversight Subcommittees baby food review, Hushen said in an email. The subcommittee is greatly concerned that these companies might be obscuring the presence of even higher levels of toxic heavy metals in their baby food products than their competitors products.. Each facility has established rigid allergen control programs that include staff training, segregation of allergen containing ingredients, production. Like any food producer, we meet with regulatory and oversight agencies to refine and update our policies and procedures to ensure the safety of our products. A congressional report found many of the products made by the countrys largest commercial baby food manufacturers contain significant levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, which can endanger infant neurological development. There is no federal standard for lead in baby food, but there is a growing consensus among health experts that lead levels in baby foods should not exceed 1 ppb. Why are Heavy Metals in Earths Best Baby Food? . Baby Food Lawyer Pedram Esfandiary. The subcommittees investigation proves that commercial baby foods contain dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium. We are disappointed that the report examined outdated data and does not reflect our current practices. Bananas can vary from yellowish-beige to pink in color. The subcommittee also recommends the following: Mandatory Testing: Only one of the companies reviewed by the Subcommittee routinely tests its finished baby foods, even though the industry is aware that toxic heavy metals levels are higher after food processing. All infant formulas are designed to provide the nutrients in the amounts listed on the label, ensuring complete, balanced nutrition for healthy term infants. Products manufactured in the US do not require Country of Origin Labeling. Despite knowing about the dangers, the company continues to bury its head in the sand, refusing to take responsibility for harming children. These allergen and sanitation programs are verified annually by our Quality Assurance department. Some babies are sensitive to lactose. On Nov. 6, 2019, following reports alleging high levels of toxic heavy metals in baby foods, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy requested internal documents and test results from seven of the largest manufacturers of baby food in the United States, including makers of organic and conventional products. All infant formulas must be approved by the FDA before they can be marketed. She added that Hain took several steps after the meeting to reduce the levels of heavy metals in finished products, changing out ingredients such as brown rice and conducting additional testing of finished product before shipping. We welcomed the opportunity to work with the Subcommittee in 2019 and continue to do so today.. Gerber said it hasnt seen the report and could not comment specifically on the findings. This formula is meant for infants having difficulty digesting proteins. As science evolves, so too should our standards and practices, which is why we met with the FDA last year to discuss how to better refine those standards and practices. Read more about baby foods to avoid in our blog. Parental Vigilance: Parents should avoid baby food products that contain ingredients testing high in heavy metals, such as rice products. We changed the source of soy protein from USDA certified organic soy to non GMO sourced soy. Also, the data points include two outliers of high lead results, not replicable in our testing, but which we included for completeness and transparency. According to the report one example of an ingredient that might not be suitable for baby foods is rice. The committee said the findings show the need for more stringent regulation of commercial baby food, including FDA standards for heavy metals, as well as mandatory testing for heavy metals. Cadmium: Hain used 102 ingredients in its Earths Best Organic baby food products that tested over 20 ppb cadmium. The chickens used in Earths Best products are not administered antibiotics or hormones. Nurture (HappyBABY) sold baby foods after tests showed they contained as much as 180 parts per billion (ppb) inorganic arsenic. The implementation of recommendations one through four will give parents the information they need to make informed decisions to protect their babies. Other brands have issued baby food recalls over heavy metals. Due to organic soy supply challenges, we recently reformulated our Earths Best plant-based formula product for infants with dairy intolerances. Our Sensitivity formula is a reduced lactose formula with 95% less lactose as compared to standard milk-based formulas. Nurture, Beech-Nut, Hain and Gerber cooperated with the subcommittees investigation, despite the fact that doing so exposed their reckless disregard for the health of babies, says the 59-page report released yesterday by the U.S. House of Representatives.