Publix has recalled one of its baby food products after routine tests showed possible lead contamination, raising new concerns about food safety for infants.
The national grocery chain announced this week that it is voluntarily pulling its GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food pouches from store shelves. So far, no illnesses have been reported.
This is the second recall of baby food due to lead concerns in recent weeks. In March, Target recalled its Good & Gather vegetable baby food puree for the same reason. Neither recall was publicly announced in a news release by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), surprising consumer safety experts.
While the FDA listed both recalls in its public database, it did not issue separate alerts. Experts say the FDA usually sends news releases when there is a serious public health risk. “There is no safe level of lead,” said Sarah Sorscher, a regulatory affairs director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “These are exactly the types of products that should be highlighted.”
Lead can harm a child’s brain development, behavior, and overall growth. It can enter food through soil or during manufacturing. Because baby food has a long shelf life, publicizing recalls helps ensure the products are taken seriously by both stores and parents, Sorscher said.
The FDA said in a statement that it is committed to sharing necessary information to protect public health. However, it did not explain why these two recent baby food recalls were not promoted more widely.
Publix did not reply to requests for comment. Target said it removed the affected baby food from shelves right away and that the recall affected a small number of products.
Concerns about contaminated baby food are not new. In 2023, several brands were recalled for high lead levels in fruit pouches. In response, the FDA introduced new voluntary limits on lead in baby foods in January, just before the Biden administration ended. While not legally required, the new standards have led companies to increase testing and safety checks.
“Industry is taking the guidance seriously and acting faster,” said Jennifer van de Ligt, a food safety expert recently laid off by the FDA.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration launched Operation Stork Speed, a plan to make baby food safer by increasing testing for heavy metals. Yet, the plan’s progress has been questioned. Former FDA and CDC staff and food safety advocates warn that mass layoffs and budget cuts could weaken the effort.
In April, the FDA shut down a key lab that tested food for heavy metals and let go of its staff. The agency reversed the closure weeks later, but critics say the move has already slowed public warnings about dangerous food.
The administration has also proposed ending a CDC program focused on preventing lead poisoning in children. The CDC said it is reorganizing but that the work will continue.
Experts are worried that the government’s actions do not match its promises. “They say they want to improve baby food safety, but their decisions are making that harder,” said Sorscher.
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