It is common knowledge that babies must consume nutritious foods to maintain healthy growth and development. Thoroughly examining the components of the products we give them is also essential to guarantee their safety. A recent study named some baby foods that contain hazardous chemicals that can be associated with nervous and reproductive system damage.
Toxic Chemicals on Baby Food
(Photo : Unsplash/hui sang)
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) study, a non-profit organization, 22 of the 73 products they examined contained at least one pesticide. Although the study examined products manufactured by Beech-Nut, Gerber, and Parent's Choice, the researchers refrained from specifying which products contained pesticide residue.
As mentioned, insecticides identified included captan, which has been linked to cancer, and acetamiprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide harmful to pollinators and humans. The pesticide fludioxonil, typically applied to cereals, fruits, and vegetables, was discovered in five different products. It is believed to be harmful to the development of the fetus, to create alterations in the cells of the immune system, and to disrupt hormones.
Additionally, other pesticides have been associated with damage to the neurological and reproductive systems, and there is very little public toxicity data available for four of the chemicals discovered in the study. Thus, apple products exhibited the highest likelihood of pesticide residue contamination, and blueberries, pears, and strawberries are some fruits that frequently contain significant amounts of these hazardous substances.
On the other hand, Olga Naidenko, who is a co-author of the study and who leads children's research for EWG, asserted that purchasing organic infant food items, which are subject to considerably tougher rules and are now often comparable in price, is the best approach to avoid food containing pesticides. The non-profit organization has also established a guide to food that displays the quantities of pesticide residue.
Furthermore, the ECWG discovered that the levels of pesticides found in baby foods are generally decreasing. In contrast to a study conducted in 1995, which examined approximately 55% of the products examined, EWG's current findings indicate that 15% fewer hazardous pesticides are present in infant foods than it did 28 years ago.
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Effects of Harmful Chemicals on Babies
The impact that toxic substances have on the development of the brains of infants is the primary cause for concern. Hormones are crucial in this process, which does not reach its complete development until their twenties. However, certain chemicals, such as endocrine disruptors, can interfere with its development by imitating or preventing the action of particular hormones.
It has been recognized for several years that certain chemicals, such as lead, PCBs, and methylmercury, affect brain development. As a result, their use in specific applications has been banned. There are additional substances that are either known to disturb brain development in the womb or are suspected of doing so from the beginning of the process. Among these are pesticides, phthalates, per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), and bisphenols. Accordingly, there have been restrictions placed on certain chemicals, but others are still present in products that are widely used, such as paint, furniture, food packaging, toys, and cosmetics.
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