Baby Formula Contaminant Testing & Safety Concerns

If you’re the parent or caregiver of a baby, you likely offer either breast milk or formula anytime the little one screeches, cries or shows signs of hunger. Most babies consume only breast milk or formula for at least the first four to five months of life, then gradually easing into solid foods, then transitioning to cow’s milk when they’re about a year old. 

This is because an infant’s digestive system is not mature enough to digest cow’s milk, and cow’s milk also lacks some essential nutrients for a growing baby. 

While there’s been a strong push toward breastfeeding in the past 20 years or so, many new parents still prefer formula for various reasons. The U.S. baby formula market was about $6.22 billion in 2024 and is projected to increase. 

That’s why it’s been such a shocking and disturbing week for parents who routinely feed their babies formula. A recent Consumer Reports investigation found concerning levels of contaminants in several baby formula products.

This is separate from previous recalls of Nutramigen, Enfamil lawsuits, and Similac lawsuits. It’s also unrelated to a 2023 baby applesauce pouch recall for lead contamination.

2025 Baby formula contaminants study

Consumer Reports studied 41 baby formulas across several brands. It found 10 formulas with potentially concerning levels of lead, arsenic and other contaminants. 21 formulas had low or no detectable contaminants. One formula contained Bisphenol A (BPA), which is a chemical typically found in plastics like water bottles, food cans, and shatterproof windows. It’s an endocrine disruptor, which means it can interfere with the body’s natural hormones, resulting in fertility damage and disruption of hormones; it can also cause eye damage, allergic reactions, respiratory irritation, and is a probable carcinogen. 

The tests included lead, arsenic, cadmium, BPA, polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, or “forever chemicals”) and acrylamide, which is a manufacturing byproduct that could cause cancer. 

The study focused mostly on elevated levels of lead and arsenic, which were the most worrisome. The contaminants found in the tests are common in the food supply and environment. Some are present in some women’s breastmilk, too.

BPA was found only in Enfamil Nutramigen, which is a formula commonly used for babies who are sensitive to milk protein and require an alternative to cow’s milk.

We’ve seen lawsuits for lead poisoning because of lead in homes and lead in water.

Lead and arsenic in baby formula

Lead can affect a child’s development. Lead can enter food and water through contaminated soil, pipes, and processing equipment because it’s naturally present in the environment. Lead from industrial sources can contaminate soil and be absorbed by plants growing in the soil, therefore entering the food supply. It can also be in food because of contact from certain types of packaging and utensils. 

Lead in the body can cause learning, behavior and other problems. Typically, children who have lead poisoning are affected because they were exposed to lead paint in older homes. Lead paint was banned in the U.S. in the 1970s but homes or businesses that were built prior to that time could still have lead. However, children can also be exposed by drinking water that flowed through lead pipes or is in their food (or formula). 

Some children with lead poisoning have no symptoms. Others present with these symptoms:

Arsenic is a heavy metal that occurs naturally and is a human carcinogen. Although it forms in the Earth’s crust, it can also contaminate groundwater and soil. In high levels, arsenic is poison. At low levels, over time, it raises the risk for cancer. 

There were two steps in the test: First measured the total level of arsenic in the baby formulas. The second measured inorganic arsenic, which is the most toxic. According to the tests, Abbott Nutrition’s EleCare Hypoallergenic had 19.7 parts per billion of inorganic arsenic; its Similac Alimentum had 15.1 parts per billion. While the EPA doesn’t specifically regulate limits for arsenic in formula, it does maintain a standard of 10 parts per billion of arsenic in municipal drinking water. This is also the limit for bottled water, as regulated by the FDA. 

Seven of the 41 tested formulas contained more than the level of arsenic at which adverse health effects would be expected in a three-month-old baby of average size who consumes an average amount each day. 

Arsenic poses a serious long-term risk to human health, but lead has immediate effects like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), beahvior problems, and lower IQ due to effects on brain development.

Formula contaminant study results

Nearly every formula contained lead at levels between 1.2 ppb and 4.2 ppb. For context, this is close to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL). 18 formulas’ lead levels were between 50% and 100% more than the MADL limit for an average three-month-old baby. 

It might be impossible to get formula to zero lead at all, and that’s a problem because there’s also lead in household dust, other baby food, and additional sources—so combined, a baby might be taking in a significant amount. But experts say there is no “safe” level of lead consumption for a baby, which means the objective has to be as low as possible, if not none. 

The tests also found PFAS, or forever chemicals, in the formulas. These are human-made pollutants that stay in our bodies for the long term. They affect our immune systems, fertility, and life expectancy. There are thousands of compounds of PFAS, and some were found in almost every formula. PFAS are also found in drinking water, so some experts recommend that parents test and filter the water they use to make powdered formula. 

Consumer Reports testing yielded these results.

These formulas did not detect (or had very low levels of) lead, BPA, cadmium, inorganic arsenic, acrylamide, and mercury:

The following were found to have levels nearing the limit for lead:

These formulas had levels above the daily limit for inorganic arsenic:

About 80% of the formula sold in the U.S. is produced by Abbott, Mead Johnson, and Perrigo. Perrigo manufactures formulas sold under store brands like Costco’s Kirkland, Sam’s Club Member’s Mark, Target Up&Up, Walmart’s Parent’s Choice and Dr. Brown’s. Abbott manufactures both Similac and EleCare. 

Each manufacturer has said that it screens formula for heavy metals and other contaminants. Some experts say that since infant formula is crucial for growth and development, it should be held to a higher standard for toxins than other food—yes, some exposure to lead and other heavy metals and contaminants is unavoidable, but baby formula should be continuously tested for quality.

What should parents do to prevent risk from baby formula?

1. Discuss with your baby’s pediatrician. It’s important to talk with the doctor before switching formulas. Some babies have sensitivities to certain things and not every formula is right for every baby. Your doctor might have recommendations for what would work best.
2. Don’t try to make your own formula. This is important. Formulas are manufactured specifically with baby’s nutrition, along with electrolyte and fluid intake needs, in mind. It’s not a “recipe” that can be easily replicated with traditional store-bought ingredients. You can discuss with the pediatrician when your baby is ready for solid foods or to switch to regular milk. Also, the ingredients you choose for homemade baby food likely also has heavy metals and contaminants—so there might not be a net benefit if the reason you’re wanting to avoid formula is because of the metals and PFAS.
3. Use clean water to mix into powdered formula. The EPA regulates drinking water in most places in the U.S. (but not everywhere). Most municipalities test periodically to ensure compliance with EPA standards—and sometimes they meet them, sometimes not. Your municipality should have publicly viewable records of test results. Note that well water is not EPA-regulated, so if you use well water, you likely need independent water quality testing. If you’re concerned about your home’s water quality, you can use commercially bottled water or use a filter system.
4. Remember to think logically about these results. They are not a reason to panic, but they are a reason to remain aware and vigilant as you make health choices for your baby. Your baby will eventually be exposed to these toxins; this is inevitable and is part of life. Whether you live in a city, a rural area, or off the grid entirely, contaminants are in your air, water, and food. We can all try to limit exposure, but we can’t avoid it altogether. Even breastmilk contains toxins; no solution is perfect and a parent should not feel guilt for doing their best.

The FDA is reviewing the test results and is expected to conduct its own testing for baby formula contaminants. That might mean consumers will see recalls in the coming months, or it could mean nothing at all… the formulas could be considered safe for babies to drink.

Either way, if you’re concerned that you or your baby are a victim of exposure to any toxin, you might consider a toxic tort lawsuit. You can contact a personal injury lawyer in your state for more information.