Taking a step toward improving the safety of baby food, Governor Newsom has given approval to AB-899 Food Safety: Baby Food. This legislation introduces measures focused on enhancing the safety of baby food products by reducing the presence of toxic elements and promoting transparency in the industry.
An Introduction to AB-899 Food Safety: Baby Food
AB-899 addresses the pressing concern of limiting the presence of toxic elements, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, in finished baby food products. The law imposes transparency requirements on manufacturers, mandating them to publish their test results on their websites. Additionally, when deemed necessary, the legislation requires additional labeling on these products.
Defining Baby Food
The legislation defines baby food as “food packaged in jars, pouches, tubs, and boxes represented or purported for babies and young children less than two years of age. Notably, this definition excludes infant formula.
Stricter Testing Requirements under AB-899
Starting from January 1, 2024, manufacturers are subject to stringent testing protocols. They are required to subject a representative sample from each “production aggregate” of the final baby food product to testing for a range of toxic elements, in addition to arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, as stipulated by the law. The test results must be readily accessible upon request.
Product Standards Effective from January 1, 2025
From January 1, 2025, final baby food products available in California must adhere to specific criteria. This includes disclosing the name and quantity of each toxic element in each production aggregate of the final baby food product on the manufacturer’s website. This information must remain available for the entire product shelf life, with an additional month.
If a product is tested for a toxic element subject to a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) action level, regulatory limit, or tolerance, the product label must incorporate a QR code or a machine-readable code that links to the manufacturer’s website with the information of test results for the toxic elements, a link to FDA website for guidance and information on the health effects.
Note that these are just a few of many new requirements. To get the complete information, read more information here.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to HQTS to get personal help and guidance. Contact us here.
