Synthetic Chemicals in Child and Infant Products

The pesticides and industrial chemicals found in child and infant products are given in Exhibit 13. In general, the type and distribution of pesticides and industrial chemicals in child/infant products are somewhat similar to the basic food categories (i.e., dairy, protein, fruit, grain, and vegetable), but their concentrations are significantly different. On average, 45 percent of the child/infant products contain multiple contaminants as well as banned or discontinued pesticides. 

These data also show that banned pesticides also occur in child/infant products. These data are consistent with the occurrence of banned pesticides in protein and vegetable products. The only apparent inconsistency is that milk-based formula did not contain any of these pesticides. In reality, however, there should be little or no banned or discontinued pesticides in milk-based formulas since commercially available products have removed the butterfat. 

Banned Pesticides Note FF = Fast-food, HM = homemac e  

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