New requirements for baby food in California

It has been a busy month for California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has signed several bills impacting food manufacturers. The latest is AB 899, which will require baby food manufacturers to test their products for heavy metal content, publicly release those test results, and include new label language regarding the metal content. The law specifically applies to both in-state and out-of-state manufacturers of infant formula and baby food for sale or distribution in California. No person or entity will be permitted to sell in the state or manufacture, deliver, hold, or offer for sale in the state any baby food or infant formula that does not comply with the new requirements.

For purposes of compliance, starting January 1, 2024, manufacturers can begin the mandated testing of their products for toxic heavy metals, which must include lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. By January 1, 2025, manufacturers will be required to make the results of their testing publicly available on their websites and must disclose that a sample of the product has been tested for heavy metals. If the product does not exceed an action level, regulatory limit, or tolerance established by the FDA for any of the heavy metals listed above, the product label must include that the product meets FDA guidance for that toxic heavy metal.