A new independent lab test, commissioned by the holistic food scanning app Olive, has found that several popular baby food products contain lead levels up to 257% higher than California’s Prop 65 daily limit.  This is the largest heavy metal screening of baby food to date, analyzing close to 300 products from major brands. Lead is a known neurotoxin, and there is no safe level of exposure, particularly for children. Even small amounts can permanently impact brain development, lower IQ, and increase risks for learning disabilities, attention issues, and behavioral problems.  While California’s Prop 65 law sets daily maximum intake limits, federal agencies like the FDA have still not established enforceable limits for heavy metals in most baby foods. This regulatory gap allows brands to continue selling contaminated products with no accountability.

257% Over the Limit: New Baby Food Test Uncovers Dangerous Lead Levels

A new independent lab test, commissioned by the holistic food scanning app Olive, has found that several popular baby food products contain lead levels up to 257% higher than California’s Prop 65 daily limit.  This is the largest heavy metal screening of baby food to date, analyzing close to 300 products from major brands. Lead is a known neurotoxin, and there is no safe level of exposure, particularly for children. Even small amounts can permanently impact brain development, lower IQ, and increase risks for learning disabilities, attention issues, and behavioral problems.  While California’s Prop 65 law sets daily maximum intake limits, federal agencies like the FDA have still not established enforceable limits for heavy metals in most baby foods. This regulatory gap allows brands to continue selling contaminated products with no accountability.

Worst Offenders (Percent Over CA Prop 65 Daily Lead Limit)

Safer Alternatives Recommended by Olive

Fortunately, there are safer choices.   According to the lab test results, the following products consistently met Olive’s rigorous standards for low contamination levels:

• 365 Whole Foods Market: Organic Baby Apple Pumpkin with Quinoa & Cinnamon Purée
• Amara: Organic Smoothie Melts Mixed Red Berries
• Cerebelly: Organic Baby Puree Spinach Apple Sweet Potato
• Earth’s Best: Organic Beef Medley Vegetable + Beef Purée
• Gerber: Apple Pear Peach Puree, Apple Strawberry Banana Sitter 2nd Foods
• HappyBaby Organics: Organic Pears, Pumpkin, Peaches & Granola
• Serenity Kids: Grass Fed Bison with Kabocha Squash & Spinach, Grass Fed A2 Whole Milk Toddler Formula
• Yumi: Apple Cinnamon & Squash Organic Bar

See the full results here.

What Parents Can Do Now

Parents can use the Olive app to scan food products and check whether they were included in the new testing. The app offers instant access to test results by barcode, empowering families to make informed choices about what they feed their children.

This issue demands immediate attention from both regulators and the food industry. Until enforceable limits are in place, parents must take the lead on protecting their children from unnecessary chemical exposures.

Unlike traditional nutrition apps, Olive goes far beyond calories and ingredients, providing independent lab-tested data on contaminants.  Users can instantly see a product’s toxicology profile and receive cleaner, healthier alternatives. Olive empowers parents with the transparency they deserve, arming them with real data—not marketing claims—so they can make informed choices for their children. 

Homemade Baby Food: A Healthier, Cleaner Choice

At Moms Across America, we recommend making your own baby food using simple, organic, whole-food ingredients.  You can explore baby-led weaning with organic foods like avocado, banana, pasture-raised scrambled eggs, homemade yogurt, and more.  

The Weston A. Price Foundation emphasizes nutrient-dense, traditional foods for babies, especially during the critical early years of development. They recommend starting babies on homemade bone broth, pastured egg yolks, organic liver purée, and grass-fed meats—foods rich in healthy fats, cholesterol, and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and K2. Fermented foods like kefir or sauerkraut juice (in tiny amounts) are also encouraged to support gut health. Rather than cereals or processed baby foods, real, whole foods that mirror ancestral diets and provide optimal nourishment for growing bodies and brains should be prioritized.