FDA Action Plan for Baby Foods
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) has released a new initiative, Closer to Zero, that identifies actions the agency will take to reduce exposure to toxic elements in foods eaten by babies and young children to lowest levels possible. FDA has prioritized babies and young children because their smaller body sizes and metabolism make them more vulnerable to the harmful effects of these contaminants.
Previous work of the FDA and stakeholders has led to meaningful reductions in exposure to toxic elements. The FDA’s action plan builds on this progress and outlines a science-based, iterative approach for achieving continual improvements over time.
Further reductions in the levels of toxic elements in foods will be made by:
- Advancing the FDA’s research on and evaluating changes in dietary exposures to toxic elements
- Encouraging adoption of best practices by industry to lower levels of toxic elements in agricultural commodities and products
- Increasing targeted compliance and enforcement activities
- Monitoring progress of levels over time
- Setting action levels, with input from stakeholders
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