Baby food lawsuit: toxic metal contamination may be linked to autism

Parents of children diagnosed with autism may be eligible for compensation

Heavy metal contamination in popular baby food brands may increase the risk of autism in young children. If you believe your child’s autism diagnosis is linked to contaminated baby food, you may be eligible to pursue compensation through an ongoing baby food lawsuit investigation.

Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify.

Multiple major baby food brands have tested positive for heavy metal contamination. According to a congressional report, products from brands like Gerber, Earth’s Best, and Parent’s Choice were found to contain arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury — toxic metals linked to developmental delays, neurological disorders, ADHD and autism spectrum disorder in young children.

Parents of affected children are taking legal action, alleging that these companies knowingly sold contaminated products and failed to protect their youngest consumers.

The law firms responsible for the content of this page are: Dolman Law Group, Accident Injury Lawyers, PA; Clearwater, Florida; 866-481-5347; dolmanlaw.com and LegaFi Law LLC (an Arizona law firm), 888-4-LegaFi, www.legafi.com.

Heavy metals found in baby food

In early 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives published a congressional report that found dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury in popular baby food brands, including Gerber Baby Food, Parent’s Choice and Plum Organics.

The report prompted further independent research — including a detailed Consumer Reports investigation into heavy metals in baby food — which confirmed that many baby foods can contain measurable amounts of these toxic elements.

In response, parents and advocacy groups have filed class action lawsuits against major baby food manufacturers, alleging that contaminated products contributed to the development of autism and other health issues in children.

The findings also sparked a call for stronger government oversight and updated safety regulations for baby food, underscoring the potential risks of heavy metal contamination.

How toxic metals can affect a child’s development

Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury can be harmful to children even at very low levels. Young children are especially vulnerable because their brains and nervous systems are still developing. Long-term exposure to these metals has been linked to developmental delays, learning difficulties, behavioral disorders, ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.

While research on the direct link between heavy metal exposure and autism is ongoing, multiple studies have found a strong correlation, particularly when children are exposed at critical stages of brain development. Early and repeated exposure — like that which can occur from consuming toxic baby food over months — may increase the risk of long-term neurological and developmental problems.

Baby food brands linked to toxic metals

According to the congressional report, testing overseen by the U.S. House of Representatives found heavy metal contamination in several popular baby food brands. The investigation reviewed seven of the nation’s largest baby food manufacturers, including:

• Beech-Nut
• Gerber Baby Food
• Parent’s Choice Baby Food (Walmart)
• Earth’s Best Organic Baby Food (Hain Celestial Group)
• Sprout Organics
• Plum Organics (Campbell’s Soup Company )
• HappyFAMILY Organics / HappyBABY (Nurture)

Each of these brands was found to contain at least one toxic heavy metal — arsenic, lead, mercury or cadmium — and some contained multiple contaminants linked to neurological and developmental disorders in children.

How to join the baby food autism lawsuit investigation

If your child consumed one or more of the affected baby food brands and was later diagnosed with autism, you may be eligible to join the ongoing baby food lawsuit investigation. Eligible families could pursue compensation for medical costs, therapies, and other expenses related to their child’s diagnosis.

As a first step, please use the form on this page to share your child’s information, including diagnosis details, age at diagnosis and which toxic baby foods were consumed. This form is completely confidential and will only be used for legal purposes by the investigating attorneys.  

Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a free case evaluation.