FDA Samples 312 Infant Formula Brands, Finds Low Levels of Heavy Metals and Contaminants

The FDA released results on April 29, 2026, from testing 312 samples across 16 infant formula brands, finding undetectable or very low levels of heavy metals, pesticides, PFAS, and phthalates. All samples showed lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic below federal drinking water limits, 99% contained no pesticides, and 95% had PFAS at or below 28 parts per trillion. The testing, which began in 2023 under Operation Stork Speed, comes as the U.S. currently lacks formal contaminant limits for infant formula, prompting consumer advocates and pediatric experts to call for establishing regulatory standards. FDA human foods chief Kyle Diamantas stated the agency is working to develop formal limits, while Consumer Reports' Brian Ronholm argued the results prove non-detect levels are feasible and should become the standard.

FDA Testing Results and Safety Findings

• ▪Levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic in all infant formula samples tested came in below federal requirements for drinking water.
• ▪The Food and Drug Administration found that the vast majority of infant formula samples had undetectable or very low levels of contaminants.
• ▪The Food and Drug Administration tested 312 samples from 16 infant formula brands for contaminants including heavy metals, pesticides, and PFAS.
• ▪The Food and Drug Administration announced infant formula contamination testing results on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
• ▪95% of infant formula samples tested by the Food and Drug Administration had PFAS levels at or below 28 parts per trillion.
• ▪99% of all infant formula samples tested by the Food and Drug Administration contained no pesticides, including glyphosate and glufosinate.

Regulatory Gaps and Calls for Formal Standards

• ▪Abbott Nutrition stated that its infant formulas meet the requirements established by Europe and Canada.
• ▪Kyle Diamantas, the head of human foods at the Food and Drug Administration, said the agency is working to develop formal limits for contaminants in infant formula.
• ▪The Environmental Protection Agency drinking water limits for PFOA and PFOS are 4 parts per trillion.
• ▪The U.S. government does not currently have formal limits for contaminants in infant formula.

Historical Context and Operation Stork Speed

• ▪The Food and Drug Administration infant formula survey began in 2023 under the Biden administration.
• ▪The health department announced Operation Stork Speed last year as an initiative aimed at examining the quality and improving the supply of infant formula in the U.S.
• ▪Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is the Health and Human Services Secretary as of April 2026.
• ▪Consumer Reports published an article that flagged concerning levels of contaminants in some infant formulas based on Environmental Protection Agency requirements for drinking water.

Expert Recommendations for Future Testing

• ▪Steven Abrams recommended the Food and Drug Administration compare their testing against individual manufacturers' results to ensure the accuracy of manufacturers' techniques.
• ▪Steven Abrams recommended the Food and Drug Administration test many different types of formula including imported and organic varieties and those made from cow's milk versus goat's milk.
• ▪Steven Abrams was one of the experts at the Food and Drug Administration roundtable on infant formula safety last year.
• ▪Brian Ronholm stated that non-detect levels of contaminants in infant formula are feasible based on testing results.

Perspective of Consumer advocacy groups (Consumer Reports)

• ▪Brian Ronholm stated that non-detect levels of contaminants in infant formula are feasible based on testing results.
• ▪Brian Ronholm of Consumer Reports believes the Food and Drug Administration should establish public health-based limits for contaminants in infant formula.

Perspective of Academic pediatric experts (Steven Abrams)

• ▪Steven Abrams recommended the Food and Drug Administration test many different types of formula including imported and organic varieties and those made from cow's milk versus goat's milk.
• ▪Steven Abrams recommended the Food and Drug Administration compare their testing against individual manufacturers' results to ensure the accuracy of manufacturers' techniques.
• ▪Steven Abrams called for the Food and Drug Administration to provide guidance on what they will test, how often they will test, how often they will report results, and how they will handle high values.

Perspective of Infant formula manufacturers (Abbott Nutrition)

• ▪Abbott Nutrition stated that its infant formulas meet the requirements established by Europe and Canada.

Perspective of FDA leadership

• ▪Kyle Diamantas, the head of human foods at the Food and Drug Administration, said the agency is working to develop formal limits for contaminants in infant formula.

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