Regulator slaps baby food company with lawsuit over heavy toxic metals in products

*The Office of the Attorney-General of Washington D.C., in the United States, has instituted a legal action against the Beech-Nut Nutrition Company for misleading consumers with incorrect product information about its foods containing high levels of toxic heavy metals that can lead to lifelong health complications

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

For apparently misleading consumers, especially parents about the health and safety of its products, Karl A. Racine, Attorney-General of Washington D.C., United States (US), has slapped baby food manufacturer Beech-Nut Nutrition Company with a lawsuit.

In the lawsuit, Racine has alleged that Beech-Nut’s slogan “real food for babies” is anything but deceitful.

ConsumerConnect gathered the Washington, D.C. Attorney-General said: “It reassures parents of the safety of its products through the use of words and phrases in its marketing and advertising such as ‘natural,’ ‘naturals,’ ‘100% natural,’ ‘organics,’ ‘just sweet potatoes’ (as an example), ‘non-GMO project verified,’ and ‘nothing artificial added.’ ”

Beech-Nut baby foods   Photo: PackagingDigest

However, the lawsuit contends that Beech-Nut foods contain high levels of toxic heavy metals, contradicting Beech-Nut’s vow that it “conduct[s] over 20 rigorous tests on our purees, testing for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals (like lead, cadmium, arsenic and other nasty stuff).”

The Attorney-General also accused Beech-Nut of speaking out of both sides of its mouth when it signalled to consumers that it is “aware of no higher standards in the industry than the ones we employ,” and that “Just like you would, we send the produce back if it’s not good enough.”

Racine further stated: “Parents across the District and the country trusted Beech-Nut when it advertised its baby food products as organic and safe.

“But the reality is much different, as parents unknowingly fed their babies food containing high levels of toxic metals which can lead to lifelong health complications,” Racine stated.

He added: “No company should profit by illegally deceiving parents about products that actually jeopardise the health and safety of their children.

“We are seeking to put a stop to it and put other baby food companies on notice that they must provide truthful and complete information about their products.

“Additionally, federal regulators and Congress need to take action to help ensure baby food is safe.”

In compounding the companies’ woes in committing alleged infractions, it was learnt baby food lawsuits and congressional concerns have started rolling in.

Added to Beech-Nut’s distress is its inclusion in a class action lawsuit filed February 2021, that claimed the company (and others) misrepresented the heavy metals in their baby foods.

Baby foods in general reportedly have had a rough year so far. AboutLawsuits reports that at least 38 proposed baby food class action lawsuits have been filed throughout the federal court system since February.

All of the lawsuits involved allegations that popular baby food products contained high levels of arsenic, lead, and mercury.

The Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy in the US House of Representatives also released a report in February called “Baby Foods Are Tainted with Dangerous Levels of Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury.”

In that report, the Committee requested internal documents and test results from seven of the U.S.’ largest manufacturers of baby food, including: Nurture, Inc., which sells Happy Family Organics, including baby food products under the brand name HappyBABY

Beech-Nut Nutrition Company

Hain Celestial Group, Inc., which sells baby food products under the brand name Earth’s Best Organic

Gerber

Campbell Soup Company, which sells baby food products under the brand name Plum Organics

Walmart Inc., which sells baby food products through its private brand Parent’s Choice

Sprout Foods, Inc.

Plaintiffs in 43 lawsuits over toxic metal contamination in baby foods filed a motion in March asking for the cases to be consolidated in New York federal court.

Consumers weigh in

In a look at past consumer sentiment regarding Beech-Nut baby food products, the company mustered slightly more than a one-star rating, coupled with a significant number of negative comments by reviewers, reports ConsumerAffairs.

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