FDA Drafts Cadmium Limits for Baby Foods: 10 ppb Action Level for Fruits and Vegetables, Comments Open Through Jan. 21
Washington: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 22 issued draft guidance setting action levels for cadmium in processed food intended for babies and young children under two years of age. Public comments are open through January 21, 2027, under docket FDA-2025-D-4023. The draft is the latest step in the FDA's Closer to Zero initiative, which aims to reduce contaminants including lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury in foods eaten by babies and young children to as low as possible over time.
The draft covers packaged processed foods in jars, pouches, tubs or boxes, including ready-to-eat purees and dry infant cereals. It does not apply to raw agricultural commodities, homemade foods, snack foods, infant formula, or beverages including toddler drinks. The proposed action levels are: 10 parts per billion (ppb) for fruits, vegetables (excluding single-ingredient carrots) and mixtures, including grain- and meat-based mixtures; 20 ppb for yogurts, puddings and custards; 25 ppb for single-ingredient carrots; 25 ppb for single-ingredient meats; and 45 ppb for dry infant cereals. The FDA said the levels are achievable when industry takes control measures to minimize cadmium, and that food at or above an action level may be regarded by the FDA as adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
The FDA notes that cadmium enters the food supply from the environment where foods are grown, raised or processed, taken up by plants and ingested by animals, and cannot be completely removed. The body eliminates cadmium slowly, and years of low-level exposure can lead to accumulation in the kidneys and liver; prolonged exposure is associated with bone demineralization and kidney and reproductive dysfunction. The agency said the action levels are not intended to direct consumers' food choices, and recommends that parents and caregivers feed children a varied, nutrient-dense diet across the main food groups. The FDA previously issued final action levels for lead in processed baby foods in January 2025.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国食品药品监管局FDA位于马里兰州Silver Spring的White Oak园区大楼（资料图）。美国食品药品监管局官方照片，公共领域，经维基共享资源。Photo: An FDA building at the White Oak campus in Silver Spring, Maryland (file photo). Official U.S. Food and Drug Administration photo, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
