FDA proposes new cadmium limits for baby foods, with carrots given higher cap

The US regulator has proposed category-specific cadmium action levels for processed foods intended for babies and children under two, including a higher limit for carrots and no projected reduction for some products.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed new cadmium limits for a narrow slice of processed foods sold as intended for babies and children under two, marking the agency’s latest step in its broader effort to reduce heavy-metal exposure without cutting off access to nutritious products. In draft guidance issued in October 2026, the agency said it would set action levels of 10 parts per billion for fruits, vegetables other than single-ingredient carrots, and mixed foods; 25 ppb for single-ingredient carrots and meats; 45 ppb for dry infant cereals; and 20 ppb for yogurts, puddings and custards. FDA said the draft is not binding and is open for public comment until January 21, 2027. (fda.gov)

The guidance is part of FDA’s Closer to Zero programme, which aims to bring dietary exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury as low as possible over time while preserving access to foods that support early development. In announcing the draft, the agency said baby foods can still contain trace heavy metals because plants absorb contaminants from soil, water and air, and because those metals can persist through processing. FDA also said the proposal is designed for processed foods represented or purported to be for babies and young children, rather than for all foods a child might eat. (fda.gov)

FDA said the limits were built around a toxicological reference value for cadmium and consumption patterns for the foods covered by the draft, including children at the higher end of intake. The agency said it used data from its Toxic Elements Programme, special surveys and the Total Diet Study to estimate both current cadmium levels and how achievable the new limits would be for manufacturers. FDA estimated the proposed caps would reduce cadmium exposure at the 90th percentile by 28% to 32% for fruits, vegetables and mixtures, by 5% for dry infant cereals, and by 0% for yoghurts, puddings, custards and single-ingredient meats, where current levels are already relatively low. (fda.gov)

The carrots carve-out reflects FDA’s view that some produce naturally takes up more cadmium from soil than others, while still delivering nutrients important for growth and development. FDA said it raised the allowable level for single-ingredient carrots above the 10 ppb level used for most fruits and vegetables because of both achievability and the nutritional role carrots play in baby food. The agency also said it has consulted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service on the inclusion of single-ingredient meats and meat-containing mixtures. FDA previously set final lead limits for many of the same food categories, underscoring a step-by-step approach in which the agency is tightening standards one contaminant at a time. (fda.gov)