FDA proposes cadmium limits for baby food, with 10 parts per billion for most jars and pouches

The Food and Drug Administration proposed limits on cadmium in packaged baby food on Oct 23. The draft guidance covers foods sold for children under 2, in jars, pouches, tubs and boxes, according to the Federal Register notice.

Cadmium is a metal that gets into crops from soil, water and industrial pollution. The body clears it slowly, with a half life of about 10 to 33 years. Long term exposure harms the kidneys and bones, FDA says.

The five limits

FDA proposes these action levels, in parts per billion (ppb), per the Federal Register notice:

• 10 ppb for fruits, vegetables and mixed foods, including grain and meat mixtures
• 25 ppb for single ingredient carrots
• 45 ppb for dry infant cereals
• 20 ppb for yogurts, puddings and custards
• 25 ppb for single ingredient meats

An action level is the point where FDA can treat a food as adulterated and weigh enforcement. The guidance is a draft and does not bind companies, FDA says.

What FDA’s testing found

FDA based the levels on 1,430 baby food samples from its own monitoring and surveys, collected from fiscal 2009 through 2024. Of those, 73% had less than 10 ppb of cadmium, per the draft guidance.

Two categories ran higher. Single ingredient carrots averaged 12.7 ppb and dry infant cereals averaged 15.0 ppb, FDA says. Fruits averaged 1.0 ppb.

Carrots got their own limit because they pull cadmium from soil more readily than other crops. At 10 ppb, only 55% of carrot products would pass, FDA says. At 25 ppb, 84% pass.

What the limits would change

FDA estimated the cut in exposure for children at the 90th percentile of consumption, the ones who eat the most of each food. Its numbers, per the draft guidance:

• Fruits, vegetables and mixed foods: 28% less cadmium, with 93% of products already passing
• Single ingredient carrots: 32% less, with 84% passing
• Dry infant cereals: 5% less, with 98% passing
• Yogurts, puddings, custards and meats: no change, with 100% passing

FDA says those last limits exist to keep levels low in foods children eat often.

How it compares with lead

FDA finalized lead limits for the same foods in January 2025. Those set 10 ppb for most foods and 20 ppb for single ingredient root vegetables and dry infant cereals, per FDA’s lead guidance.

The cadmium limit for dry infant cereal is 45 ppb, more than double the lead limit for the same product, per the two FDA guidances.

What is left out

The draft does not cover infant formula, toddler drinks, other beverages, homemade food or snacks such as grain based and freeze dried snacks, FDA says. The agency says it is still collecting data on grain based snacks.

Comments are due Dec. 22, 2026 under docket FDA-2025-D-4023, per the Federal Register notice. FDA plans a public webinar on Nov. 16, according to its Oct 22 constituent update.

Why it matters

The limits barely touch infant cereal, where cadmium runs highest, with a 5% cut. The biggest cut, 32%, lands on single ingredient carrots.