Breaking Down the Consumer Reports Baby Formula Report

Alex Kelly
Mar 26
3 min read

Consumer Reports recently tested 41 baby formulas for arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury - sparking a ton of talk in the headlines.

Should you panic? No.

Let's Take a Look at the Facts

Out of the 41 formulas tested, every single one tested below US and EU safety limits for every heavy metal.

There was no mercury detected in a single formula, and cadmium levels were so low they were considered inconsequential.

Lead levels ranged from 1.2-4.2 ppb*, which is below the Closer to Zero initiatives levels set for baby food (10-20ppb depending)**. For more context, the EU allows up to 20ppb for infant formula (1). This puts the levels found in the CR report 5-17x lower then the EU’s limits for lead.

Sure, the levels aren’t as low as the MADL set by the OEHHA. And sure, those more conservative levels should always be what is strived for if possible - but the fact that all levels are within international safety limits, yet is not being highlighted is misleading mothers and sparking a lot of unnecessary fear and anxiety. This is the opposite of informed consent.

For More Context

Lead is consistently found in breastmilk. One global review found lead in almost every single sample, with levels as high as 1500 ppb in certain regions (2).

This is not meant to spark more fear, but to shine line on the full context of heavy metals. Many formula moms have been reaching out expressing intense feelings of guilt for choosing the formula route (either by personal choice or necessity), but we cannot escape heavy metals - regardless if we formula feed or breast-feed. And guess what? Take a breath, because it’s going to be okay. All we can do is focus on what we can control, which we will talk about at the end. I know it’s easier said than done, but try as best as you can to let the fear and anxiety go. That is way worse for our health than any toxin.

Now, Let's Chat Arsenic

There were 10 formulas that Consumer Reports placed in the “worst” category, and 9 of these were because of inorganic arsenic levels.

Arsenic, as well as most heavy metals (technically arsenic isn’t a heavy metal), is widespread throughout the environment. It can be found in water, rice, mushrooms, seafood, poultry, as well as breastmilk. A 2021 study out of Spain found arsenic in 97% of breastmilk samples (3).

Every single formula in the CR’s report were below the EU’s 20ppb arsenic levels limit for breastmilk (1).

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Final Thoughts

I am NOT arguing that formulas should not be held to a high standard. Quite the opposite. Any product made for the most vulnerable should be held to the highest standard possible.

In a perfect world, would I like to see zero levels of all heavy metals and toxic substances? Of course! Do I think we should continue to fight for the lowest possible levels? Definitely! Am I 100% happy with all the levels in this report? Not AT ALL.

But when fear-mongering headlines take over without full context given, that doesn’t sit well with me. We should be fighting for informed consent, and this is not that.

At the end of the day, unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world. Heavy metals and toxins are everywhere. We cannot escape them. All we can do is focus on what we can control when it comes to our health, and give our bodies the best environment possible to put it’s beautifully designed natural detoxification system to work.

view my full safer formula guide