ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland lawmakers are working to keep children safe by introducing a bill that would require testing for toxic heavy metals like lead in baby food. House Bill 97, also known as Ruby's Law, is named after a young girl who was sickened by lead poisoning in contaminated apple sauce pouches. The wave of lead poisonings led to a nationwide recall, and calls for the Food and Drug Administration to take urgent action.
Ruby's Law is sponsored by Prince George's County Del. Deni Taveras and Baltimore County Del. Cheryl Pasteur. Under the legislation, beginning in 2025, manufacturers of baby food would be required to conduct testing for toxic heavy metals before packing individual units for sale and distribution in Maryland. It would also require the manufacturers to make certain information related to the testing and results on the label starting in 2026.
The bill is part of efforts on the state level to protect babies and young children as the Food and Drug Administration works to establish voluntary limits for lead and other toxic metals.
Meanwhile, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown joined 19 other attorneys general in calling for the FDA to do more to address the issue.
In a letter sent last week, the AGs urged the FDA to act on a pending request, originally filed in 2021, that the FDA issue specific guidance to the baby food industry to require testing of all finished food products for lead and other toxic metals.
RELATED: Maryland Attorney General calls for stronger FDA protections after national apple sauce recall
The letter cites recent findings of hundreds of childhood lead poisonings linked to recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches that were sold throughout the country without first being tested for toxic metals. Cases were found in Maryland and Virginia.
“Parents trust companies to provide safe and healthy products for their children. We can't leave it to companies to test for contaminants that harm our kids,” Brown said in a statement. “I urge the FDA to protect children and require baby and toddler food manufacturers to test their products before sending them to market.”
RELATED: FDA: 'Extremely high' lead levels found in cinnamon at plant that made tainted fruit pouches
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