Baby Food Safety Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Introduced
Summary
Legal limits and mandatory testing for toxic elements in infant and toddler foods would set federal caps for lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic and require manufacturers to test final products and keep records. The bill would also strengthen import verification, traceability, and FDA recall and inspection tools.
Show full summary
- Families and caregivers: Foods marketed for children up to 24 months would face clear contaminant limits. This targets baby foods and fruit or vegetable purees to reduce exposure risks.
- Manufacturers and labs: Facilities would need a control program with representative final-product sampling, testing at least quarterly, and records kept for at least 2 years or the product shelf life. Labs performing tests must meet accreditation standards.
- Importers and regulators: Importers must verify accuracy of testing records for shipments. FDA would gain remote record access in some cases and expanded mandatory recall authority for foods that exceed the new limits.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
New testing and records for baby food
If enacted, this bill would require facilities that make covered infant and toddler foods and fruit/vegetable purees or juices to run a toxic-elements control program. Testing of final products would have to follow a written plan and occur at least quarterly and after major product or process changes. Required labs would need accreditation or to meet international standards. Facilities would keep sampling and test records for at least two years or the product shelf life. Records and English translations must be provided to FDA on request, and failing to follow the sampling, testing, or record rules would be a prohibited act subject to FDA enforcement. FDA would issue guidance within 18 months and the testing rules would begin two years after enactment.
Limits and recalls for baby foods
If enacted, the bill would direct FDA to set enforceable limits for lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic in infant and toddler foods and in foods mostly made from fruit or vegetable purees or juices. The bill would define "infant or toddler food" as food for children up to 24 months and would exclude infant formula. FDA must publish proposed limits with at least 45 days for public comment and meet deadlines for proposals (lead and arsenic by 12/31/2026; cadmium by 4/30/2027; mercury by 4/30/2029) and issue final orders within 18 months after each proposal. Foods that exceed those limits could be treated as adulterated, and FDA would be able to order mandatory recalls for such products.
Stronger import oversight and inspections
If enacted, FDA would finalize a plan by January 20, 2027 to help industry comply with the traceability rule and describe needed resources and communications. FDA would study and report to Congress within one year on how many foreign facility inspections are needed and give a two-year plan if goals are not met. Annual FDA reports would include the nature of domestic and foreign inspections, aggregate findings, and foreign importer compliance rates. FDA would also be able to request records remotely and require businesses to provide them in a reasonable time and manner, at the provider's expense, in place of on-site inspection.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov