A Critical Update on Food Safety and Toxic Metal Testing

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A Personal Message from Tamara Rubin – March 30, 2025

Today, I want to share some troubling findings from recent independent testing that raise significant concerns about the safety of our food supply and the potential health risks posed by toxic metals like Cadmium. The results are not only disappointing but also alarming on multiple levels. At the forefront is the risk of Cadmium contamination entering our human diet—since Cadmium is a recognized carcinogen, any positive test results in food items warrant serious attention.

Furthermore, these findings highlight how animal flesh, specifically beef in this case, can become contaminated with Cadmium if the cattle consume vegetables or grains contaminated with this toxic metal. A concerning emerging trend we’ve observed through our community-funded testing initiative, Lead Safe Mama, LLC, is that numerous crops grown in the United States—including those labeled organic—are testing positive for Cadmium contamination. This is likely a consequence of widespread use of Cadmium-laden phosphate rock fertilizers, which remain legally permitted in organic farming practices due to their natural classification.

Given these insights, I have made the difficult decision to stop offering certain snack products containing this beef for my child, especially considering our family’s history of cancer. It was surprising to discover the extent of Cadmium contamination in this product, and I plan to test similar organic beef products to compare levels. If you’re interested in learning more about detox protocols to support your family’s health amidst these toxicant concerns, I recommend reading this comprehensive article here. Please note, many detox products on the market are ineffective or potentially harmful—and some can even increase Lead exposure.

The full laboratory report for this product is provided at the end of this article.

For safer food, supplement, and cosmetic choices, we maintain several curated lists on our dedicated testing landing page (linked here). These lists are regularly updated and include tested products verified to be free of detectable levels of Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, and Arsenic. We also offer a specific list of safer snack options, which you can explore here. Bookmark this page, as it always features our latest lab reports, accessible via the menu at the top of every page, marked by a convenient button graphic.

If you’d like to support our ongoing independent testing efforts and advocacy work, please consider visiting our GoFundMe campaigns. Your contributions help us fund additional testing and continue providing valuable information to the community. Thank you for your support!

Introduction to Tamara Rubin and Our Mission

  • Tamara Rubin is a renowned advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer safety, recognized with multiple federal awards. She is also an accomplished documentary filmmaker and mother of children affected by Lead poisoning, with two of her four sons acutely poisoned in 2005.
  • Lead Safe Mama, LLC is a woman-owned small business dedicated to community-driven efforts to eliminate Lead and other toxicants from consumer products, especially those used by children.
  • Since July 2022, our lab testing has contributed to six product recalls by the FDA and CPSC, ensuring public safety.
  • All results reported are scientifically verified, accurate, and reproducible, emphasizing our commitment to transparency and integrity.
  • Visit our press page to see media coverage highlighting our work.

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Curated List of Safer Consumer Products

Below is an expanding list of foods, supplements, and cosmetics that have tested to be free of detectable Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, and Arsenic through independent, community-funded laboratory analysis coordinated by Lead Safe Mama, LLC. The detection limits for each metal are specified in the respective lab reports, accessible by searching the product name on our site.

Updated List as of March 29, 2025 — 62 Products

  1. Baby Food — 1: Little Spoon Kale, Carrot + Pear BabyBlends
  2. Baby Food — 2: Little Spoon Butternut Squash + Blueberry BabyBlends
  3. Baby Food — 3: Little Spoon Sweet Potato BabyBlends
  4. Baby Food — 4: Little Spoon Sweet Potato + Carrot BabyBlends
  5. Baby Food — 5: Little Spoon Banana + Pitaya BabyBlends
  6. Beverage — 1: Honest Kids Organic Appley Ever After Apple Juice Drink: Amazon Link
  7. Beverage — 2: Olipop Grape Tonic: Amazon Link
  8. Breakfast Item — 1: Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Panda Puffs: Amazon Link
  9. Breakfast Item — 2: Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Corn Puffs Gorilla Munch: Amazon Link
  10. Breakfast Item — 3: One Degree Organic, Gluten-Free, Sprouted Rolled Oats (Canada): Amazon Link
  11. Candy — 1: Lindt White Chocolate Bar (Made in USA, New Hampshire): Amazon Link
  12. Candy — 2: Cavendish & Harvey Wild Berry Drops, not organic (Germany): Amazon Link
  13. Coffee & Tea — 1: Chameleon Handcrafted Organic Cold Brew Concentrate: Amazon Link
  14. Coffee & Tea — 2: Tao of Tea Organic Genmaicha (Tamara’s favorite, from Japan, sold locally in Portland): Amazon Link
  15. Coffee & Tea — 3: Califia Farms Almond Latte Cold Brew (XX Espresso): Amazon Link
  16. Coffee & Tea — 4: Death Wish Organic Espresso Roast Ground Coffee (Multi-country origin): Amazon Link
  17. Coffee Creamer — Plant-Based — 1: Laird Superfood Coconut Creamer: Amazon Link
  18. Coffee Creamer — Dairy — 2: Organic Valley Grassmilk Half and Half: Amazon Link
  19. Dairy & Cheese: Babybel Mini Original Snack Cheese: Amazon Link
  20. Fruit Snack — 1: GoGo Squeez Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: Amazon Link
  21. Fruit Snack — 2: Kirkland Organic Apple Sauce Pouch (Costco): Amazon Link
  22. Fruit Snack — 3: Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Strawberry Banana: Amazon Link
  23. Fruit Snack — 4: Once Upon A Farm Dairy-Free Strawberry Banana Swirl Fruit Smoothie Pouch: Amazon Link
  24. Fruit Snack — 5: Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Raspberry Lemonade: Amazon Link
  25. Infant Formula — 1: Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula (Pink/White Can): Amazon Link
  26. Infant Formula — 2: Bobbie Organic Infant Formula (Green/White Can): Amazon Link
  27. Infant Formula — 3: Bobbie Grass-Fed Milk-Based Powder (Green Can): Amazon Link
  28. Infant Formula — 4: ByHeart Infant Formula (U.S.-made, non-organic): Amazon Link
  29. Infant Formula — 5: HiPP Bio Combiotik Stage 1 Infant Formula: Amazon Link
  30. Infant Formula — 6: HiPP HA Stage PRE (0+ Months) Formula: Amazon Link
  31. Infant Formula — 7: Holle Bio Goat Stage 2 Infant Formula (European, organic): Amazon Link
  32. Infant Formula — 8: Kendamil Goat Infant Formula (non-organic): Available at Target
  33. Infant Formula — 9: Kendamil Organic Follow-On Milk (European, Cow Milk, non-organic): Link pending
  34. Infant Formula — 10: Kendamil Whole Milk Infant Formula (European, non-organic, pink can): Available at Target
  35. Infant Formula — 11: Kendamil Organic Infant Formula (Cow Milk): Available at Target
  36. Ingredient — 1 (Salt): Jacobsen’s Sea Salt (Oregon, USA): Amazon Link
  37. Ingredient — 2 (Salt): Maldon Sea Salt Flakes: Amazon Link
  38. Ingredient — 3 (Baking Flour): Jovial Organic Einkorn Flour (Italy): Amazon Link
  39. Ingredient — 4 (Seeds): Costco Kirkland Organic Hemp Seeds: Amazon Link
  40. Ingredient — 5 (Seeds): Navitas Organic Gluten-Free Chia Seeds (Mexico): Amazon Link
  41. Ingredient — 6 (Vinegar): Napa Valley Naturals Organic Red Wine Vinegar (California): Amazon Link
  42. Ingredient — 7 (Beans): Jovial Organic Chickpeas (Italy): Amazon Link
  43. Ingredient — 8 (Sugar): Anthony’s Organic Granulated Cane Sugar: Amazon Link
  44. Oil — 1: Chosen Foods 100% Avocado Oil (not organic): Amazon Link
  45. Oil — 2: Dr. Adorable’s Organic Perilla Seed Oil (Korea): Amazon Link
  46. Oil — 3: Dr. Bronner’s Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil: Amazon Link
  47. Plant-Based Milk — 1: Kiki Milk Organic Plant-Based Milk (Original): Amazon Link
  48. Plant-Based Milk — 2: West Soy Unflavored Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk: Amazon Link
  49. Supplements — 1: Baby Ddrops Organic Vitamin D3 for Babies: Amazon Link
  50. Supplements — 2: Doctor’s Best Vitamin C with Q-C: Amazon Link
  51. Supplements — 3: Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Multivitamin Liquid with Iron: Amazon Link
  52. #4 New! Supplements — 4: Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Elderberry Liquid Drops: Amazon Link
  53. Supplements — 5: Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil: Amazon Link
  54. #6 New! Supplements — 6: Nordic Naturals Kids Vitamin D3 Gummies (Ages 3+): Amazon Link
  55. #7 New! Supplements — 7: Pectasol Modified Citrus Pectin (Made in USA): Amazon Link
  56. Supplements — 8: Pendulum Metabolic Daily Dietary Supplement: Amazon Link
  57. Cosmetics — 1: Kora Organics Noni Face Oil: Amazon Link
  58. Cosmetics — 2: Fluoride-Free Toothpaste! Orajel Kids Training, Natural Berry Flavor: Amazon Link
  59. Cosmetics — 3: Miessence Mint Toothpaste: Amazon Link
  60. Cosmetics — 4: Dr. Brown’s Fluoride-Free Baby Toothpaste – Strawberry: Amazon Link
  61. Cosmetics — 5: Low-Fluoride Kid’s Foam Toothpaste, Watermelon Flavor: Amazon Link
  62. Cosmetics — 6: Kid’s Spry Tooth Gel with Xylitol, Original Flavor: Amazon Link

Note: Lab reports pending or not yet published as of March 29, 2025. For detailed lab reports of all tested products, visit this link. Stay tuned for updates!

Additional Noteworthy Findings:

Below are five more products that tested positive for trace levels of Arsenic—levels considered safe by all standards, with detection thresholds specified in their respective reports:

  1. Kendamil Goat Toddler Milk (non-organic): May be available at Target or other European infant formula outlets.
  2. That’s It Apple Cherry Bars: Non-organic, positive for traces of Arsenic. Amazon link.
  3. Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil (Organic): Contains traces of Arsenic. Amazon link.
  4. Now Sunflower Lecithin (Non-organic): Detected with trace Arsenic levels. Amazon link.
  5. WishGarden Immune Boost Seasonal Rescue for Pregnancy: Trace Arsenic detected. Amazon link.

Disclaimer:

All Amazon links provided are affiliate links. Purchases made through these links support our work at no extra cost to you, helping us continue our critical testing and advocacy efforts.

Laboratory report for the featured product image above:

Detailed lab analysis results are available for review, ensuring transparency and scientific accuracy. For access, search the product name on our website and locate the corresponding report at the bottom of the related article.

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