Heavy metals in baby food: The hidden danger that could be harming your child's health
Childhood nutrition is much more than a simple question of nutrition. It is the foundation on which our children's future is built: their growth, their cognitive development, their ability to learn and even their life expectancy. However, what many parents are unaware of is that invisible and silent enemies can hide in the daily diet of the youngest children: heavy metals.
Cadmium, arsenic, lead and mercury are toxic substances that, although present in nature, have reached worrying levels in some foods due to environmental pollution and industrial practices. Children are especially vulnerable to their effects, as their organs are still developing and their ability to eliminate these toxins is limited. The result? Kidney problems, neurological disorders, developmental delays, cancer and even death in cases of severe poisoning.
This article is intended as a wake-up call for all those parents who may be unknowingly exposing their children to these hidden poisons. Knowing the risks and knowing which foods contain the highest concentration of heavy metals in order to avoid them can make the difference between healthy development and irreversible damage.
Mercury (+10 years)
Mercury is a heavy metal that is especially dangerous for children because of its toxicity to the developing nervous system. Its most harmful form, methylmercury, accumulates in the tissues of large marine predators, reaching worrying levels in species such as bluefin tuna, shark (dogfish, blue shark, shortfin mako, mako shark, spotted dogfish), emperor shark and pike.
What foods should we avoid? To protect children's health, the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) recommends that children under 10 years of age should not consume these fish, and that those between 10 and 14 years of age should limit their intake to a maximum of 120 grams per month.
Opting for: smaller fish lower in the food chain, such as salmon, hake or cod, is a safer alternative to ensure a healthy diet without the risk of mercury poisoning.
To know more: Recommendations for mercury in fish (AESAN)Lead (+7 years)
Lead is a highly toxic metal that can have devastating consequences on child development. Even in trace amounts, its presence in a child's body can cause irreversible neurological damage, affecting learning, memory and behavior. Prolonged exposure to lead is linked to reduced IQ and problems with attention and behavior.
What foods should we avoid? To reduce the risk of exposure, the consumption of meat from animals hunted with lead ammunition, such as roe deer, wild boar, deer, hare or partridge, is not recommended until at least 7 years of age.
Opt for: You can include proteins such as chicken, turkey and white fish.
To know more: Recommendations for the presence of lead in food (AESAN)Arsenic (+6 years)
Arsenic is a highly toxic heavy metal that occurs naturally in soil and water. Prolonged exposure to its inorganic form can cause serious health damage in children, including skin lesions, neurodevelopmental problems and an increased risk of cancer later in life.
What foods should we avoid? To minimize the risk of exposure, it is recommended that rice flour, rice drinks and rice pancakes be avoided until the age of 6 years. Although rice can be included in children's diets, it is crucial to wash it thoroughly before cooking to reduce the presence of arsenic. Brown rice contains higher amounts of this metal compared to white rice, so it should only be offered occasionally and always with thorough washing beforehand.
Safer alternatives: You can offer low-arsenic cereals such as oats, wheat and quinoa, as well as legumes such as lentils and chickpeas.
To know more: Arsenic according to the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN).
Cadmium (+3 years)
Cadmium is a heavy metal found in the environment due to industrial and agricultural activities, accumulating in certain foods that are part of the daily diet. Although intestinal absorption of cadmium is low (3-5%), once in the body, its elimination is extremely slow, allowing it to accumulate and cause serious kidney and bone damage over time.
What foods should we avoid? To avoid exposure to cadmium in childhood, it is recommended not to offer crustacean heads or crab bodies to children under 3 years of age. In addition, it is crucial to pay attention to seafood broths and soups, as they may have been prepared with these ingredients and may contain high concentrations of this heavy metal. O
Opt for: As a safe alternative, it is recommended to consume white fish such as hake and sole, lean meats such as chicken and turkey, and low-risk vegetables such as carrots and zucchini
To know more: About cadmium exposure
The key: A safe diet
It is essential to ensure safe feeding during infancy to prevent exposure to heavy metals. Parents and caregivers should be informed about the potential sources of these contaminants and follow the recommendations of health authorities to minimize the associated risks.
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