Bill > HB507

This bill, known as the Baby Food Protection Act, mandates that the Department of Agriculture (referred to as "Department" in the bill) test representative samples of every batch of baby food manufactured in the Commonwealth for toxic heavy metals, which are defined as metals or metal compounds that negatively impact health. Specifically, the bill sets limits for these metals in baby food, prohibiting the sale or distribution of products exceeding 10 parts per billion (ppb) for inorganic total arsenic, 5 ppb for lead, 5 ppb for cadmium, and 2 ppb for mercury, and requires that baby food be labeled with the levels of these metals found. The bill also states that if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets lower limits for these or other toxic heavy metals, the Department must adopt those lower federal limits, and the act will expire if federal legislation is enacted that is substantially similar to its provisions.