FDA proposes first cadmium limits for packaged foods aimed at babies and toddlers

The proposed thresholds cover purées, cereals, dairy products and meats as part of the FDA’s Closer to Zero effort to reduce young children’s exposure to toxic elements.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed new action levels for cadmium in packaged foods for babies and toddlers, stepping up its effort to reduce exposure to toxic elements in early childhood diets. The agency said the draft limits are part of its “Closer to Zero” programme, which is aimed at driving down exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in foods made for young children while keeping nutritious products available.

Under the draft guidance, the FDA would set cadmium thresholds of 10 parts per billion for most fruits, vegetables and mixed products, excluding single-ingredient carrots; 25 parts per billion for single-ingredient carrots; 45 parts per billion for dry infant cereals; 20 parts per billion for yoghurts, puddings and custards; and 25 parts per billion for single-ingredient meats. The proposal covers processed foods marketed for children younger than two, including ready-to-eat purées and semi-prepared products, but would not apply to infant formula, beverages, raw agricultural commodities, home-prepared foods or snack items.

Cadmium is a naturally occurring element, but it can also enter the food chain through pollution in soil, water and air. The FDA said long-term exposure can affect the kidneys and bones, and that babies and young children may face greater risk because of their smaller size and developing bodies. In setting the draft levels, the agency said it reviewed monitoring data, survey results, dietary exposure estimates and the practical question of whether manufacturers can realistically reduce contamination.

The proposed cadmium limits follow earlier FDA action on other heavy metals in children’s foods. In January 2025, the agency finalised lead limits for processed baby foods, and in 2023 it set an action level of 10 parts per billion for inorganic arsenic in apple juice. The FDA also released a new draft chapter of its guidance on hazard controls for human food, aimed at helping manufacturers identify and manage chemical risks through current good manufacturing practices and risk-based preventive controls, including supply-chain oversight. The agency said the draft, once finalised, could help companies better meet Closer to Zero targets. It also updated the programme’s webpage and said it plans a webinar on November 16, 2026, to discuss the guidance and related food chemical safety work.