NewsNation

Heavy metals found in baby formula samples tested in Florida

Sophia Fanning and Staci DaSilva

BARTOW, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Bartow on Friday morning to announce the results of baby formula testing the state has been conducting.

He was joined by First Lady Casey DeSantis, Surgeon General Dr. Joe Ladapo and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins at Golden Ridge Groves.


Twenty-four samples were tested, comprised of a variety of brands and purchased from different stores.

The first lady said samples were tested for arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and pesticides, and announced that 16 out of 24 samples, or two-thirds, were found to have at least one toxin exceeding federal standards.

“Parents should be able to trust that the products that they bring home are safe,” Casey DeSantis said. “They should not have to wonder whether the food that they are consuming, or they’re giving to their children, could be quietly impacting their health over time.”

Mercury was by far the most common toxin found in the samples, appearing in all 16 that tested positive for at least one. Arsenic was detected in five samples, cadmium in three, and lead in two.

None of the samples tested positive for pesticides.

Eight formula products were clear of the toxins the state tested for: Bobbie Infant Formula, ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula (under active recall for potential contamination with Clostridium botulinum), Holle Organic Infant Formula Stage 1, Holle Organic Infant Goat Milk Formula Stage 1, Kendamil Classic, Kendamil Goat Milk Based Formula, Similac Advance Ready to Feed, and Similac Sensitive Ready to Feed.

The First Lady said the testing was done as part of the Healthy Florida First initiative, and that more announcements relating to food and drug safety would be coming in the future.

Full test results:

NewsNation affiliate WFLA has reached out to Abbott Nutrition, which makes Similac formula and has not heard back.

Mead Johnson, which makes Enfamil, issued the following statement:

Mead Johnson Nutrition is committed to providing the highest levels of quality and safety for all our infant formula products as evidenced by the fact that parents and pediatricians have trusted our infant nutritional products for 120 years. 

We are disappointed the state of Florida announced results without sharing any data or testing methodology, which may unnecessarily scare parents and caregivers. We are concerned this testing, without the proper scientific, regulatory and environmental context, can lead to oversimplified statements, not representative of the product category or industry. 

It is important to note that many elements referenced in today’s announcement are naturally present in the environment, drinking water, the food supply chain, and cannot be completely avoided. These substances may be present in trace amounts in many food products, including infant formula and even human breast milk.  

We look forward to working with the state of Florida and the Department of Health to ensure parents and caregivers receive accurate information about infant formula.

“We all need more information to know exactly what’s going on,” said Dr. Rana Alissa, president of the Florida Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Alissa said the organization is working to gather more data on the state’s findings and knows the formula industry to be well-regulated and safe.

“Since we don’t know much, there is really no reason to panic, no reason to go buy a different formula or go check what’s going on. Call your pediatrician. Your pediatrician is always the person to go to if you have any question,” said Dr. Alissa.