The USFDA has updated its previous plan, Closer to Zero , which was an initiative towards reduction of toxicity in baby food. Babies and young children due to their small body-sizes and immature metabolic processes are vulnerable to toxic elements. Thus, it is crucial to ensure high-quality food devoid of toxic elements like arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. With these elements ubiquitously present in air, water, and soil, the challenge lies in limiting toxic elements and yet producing nutritious affordable food. To address this challenge, the USFDA has proposed a new, three-phase action plan based on a multi-phase, science-based, iterative approach.
The USFDA intends to start immediately although testing has shown that children are not at an immediate health risk from toxic elements in food. The first phase (year 1) of the plan has four stages (Figure 1). Figure 1. First…
