Bill > HB4124

This bill, titled "To require baby food manufacturers to provide information about the quantity of or percentage of different types of heavy metals in baby food," mandates that manufacturers of baby food, defined as food specifically for children under two years old but excluding infant formula, must test their final products for toxic elements—namely arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury—starting January 1, 2027. These tests must be conducted by a proficient laboratory, which meets specific accreditation and sensitivity standards, on a representative sample of each production aggregate (a batch of product with uniform composition) at least monthly and before individual units are packaged. Manufacturers must make the name and level of each toxic element present in each production aggregate publicly available on their website for the product's shelf life plus one month, along with descriptive information to identify the product. Additionally, if a toxic element has an established regulatory limit by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the product label must include a QR code linking to the manufacturer's website with test results and FDA guidance on the toxic element's health effects, along with a statement directing consumers to scan the code for testing information. The bill also requires manufacturers to provide test results to authorized agents of the Department of Health upon request and prohibits the sale of non-compliant baby food in the state.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4124&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill