A Message from Tamara Rubin: An Urgent Update on Flour Safety
As expected, and consistent with all the American-manufactured and packaged wheat flour products we have independently tested to date, the 365 Whole Foods Market Organic All-Purpose Flour has shown concerning levels of Cadmium contamination. These findings are particularly alarming considering the typical daily flour intake of most Americans, especially within the context of the current American diet. Based on this data, my personal advice, shaped by over two decades of experience in childhood Lead poisoning prevention and food safety advocacy, is that consumers should limit or avoid flour-based products in the United States. Such products should be reserved for occasional treats rather than daily staples, regardless of whether they are made from wheat, nuts, or other grains. This approach is especially important for children, who are more vulnerable to toxicant accumulation and related health issues. Removing all flour products from their diet has historically resulted in significant health improvements, particularly in cases of Lead exposure, which can cause severe gastrointestinal and neurological issues. Our family’s experience echoes this, having ceased purchasing packaged bread and baked goods about ten years ago after our son Avi experienced multiple hospitalizations linked to flour consumption. Now an independent adult, Avi manages his diet by limiting flour intake and experimenting with flour-free recipes, emphasizing a safer and healthier lifestyle.
Cadmium is a recognized carcinogen, and its pervasive presence in the U.S. food supply is deeply concerning. Our research suggests that the use of phosphate rock fertilizers—commonly employed even in organic farming practices in the U.S.—may be a significant source of soil and crop contamination. Unlike in Europe, where phosphate fertilizer use is heavily restricted or prohibited, the U.S. continues to rely on these contaminated fertilizers, leading to elevated Cadmium levels in crops like wheat and potatoes, even within organic cultivation. We plan to publish a detailed comparative chart illustrating toxicant levels across various wheat flour products shortly. Click here to access our comprehensive list of tested products, with links to individual lab reports, for further insights.
Laboratory Testing and Safer Choices
Our testing has encompassed a wide array of products, spanning baby foods, beverages, cereals, snacks, coffee, dairy, and supplements. We will soon share a comparative chart showcasing the results, highlighting products that tested non-detect for Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, and Arsenic. The detailed lab reports for each tested item are available at the bottom of this article. Our goal is to empower consumers with science-based, transparent data to make safer choices for their families.
For those seeking safer options, we maintain an updated list of 50 laboratory-tested safer foods and supplements on our dedicated resources page. These products have been independently tested and verified to contain trace or non-detect levels of toxic metals. We encourage support for our ongoing independent testing efforts through our GoFundMe campaigns, which help fund further research and public education.
Additional Products with Trace Arsenic Levels
In addition to the primary testing, we identified five products that contain trace amounts of Arsenic. These levels are within what most standards consider safe, but they underscore the ubiquity of toxic elements in various foods and supplements. The products include:
- Infant Formula: Kendamil Goat Toddler Milk (non-organic, positive for Arsenic traces)
- Fruit Snack: That’s It Apple Cherry Bars (non-organic, positive for Arsenic traces)
- Oil: Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil (organic, positive for Arsenic traces)
- Supplement: Now Sunflower Lecithin (non-organic, positive for Arsenic traces)
- Supplement: WishGarden Immune Boost Seasonal Rescue
Note: All Amazon links provided are affiliate links.
Key Context and Scientific Standards
It is crucial to understand that the proposed Action Levels for heavy metals in food and supplements—developed by the scientific community in 2021—serve as protective thresholds. These are not the same as legally mandated maximum limits or recommended daily allowances. Many industry manufacturers mistakenly interpret these thresholds as permissible, falsely believing that testing below these levels indicates safety. However, scientific consensus affirms that there is no safe level of Lead exposure. Heavy metals accumulate in the body over time, making even small, incidental exposures potentially harmful, especially for children. When a product exceeds the designated Action Level, it signifies a significant health risk, prompting the need for intervention—such as reformulation, recall, or public notification.
It is also important to recognize that serving size does not accurately reflect potential toxicant exposure, as consumers often ingest multiple servings or larger quantities than manufacturer-recommended. Therefore, Action Levels based on total toxicant content (ppb) in any amount of product are more protective and scientifically sound than thresholds tied to arbitrary serving sizes or regulations like Prop 65.
Addressing Industry Claims of Unachievability
Despite industry assertions that meeting these safety thresholds is impossible, our testing demonstrates otherwise. Several tested products, including some listed below, have shown non-detect results for heavy metals, even with detection limits as low as <1.5 ppb
We have compiled an expanding list of such products—foods and supplements—that currently meet or fall below these safe thresholds, proving that safer manufacturing is entirely feasible.
Updated List as of February 15, 2025 — 50 Products
- Baby Food — Little Spoon Kale, Carrot + Pear BabyBlends
- Baby Food — Little Spoon Butternut Squash + Blueberry BabyBlends
- Baby Food — Little Spoon Sweet Potato BabyBlends
- Baby Food — Little Spoon Sweet Potato + Carrot BabyBlends
- Baby Food — Little Spoon Banana + Pitaya BabyBlends
- Beverage — Honest Kids Organic Appley Ever After Apple Juice Drink: Amazon Link
- Beverage — Olipop Grape Tonic: Amazon Link
- Breakfast — Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Panda Puffs: Amazon Link
- Breakfast — One Degree Organic Gluten-Free Sprouted Rolled Oats (Canada): Amazon Link
- Candy — Lindt White Chocolate Bar (Made in USA): Amazon Link
- Candy — Cavendish & Harvey Wild Berry Drops (Germany): Amazon Link
- Coffee & Tea — Chameleon Organic Cold Brew Concentrate: Amazon Link
- Coffee & Tea — Tao of Tea Organic Genmaicha (Portland-based seller): Amazon Link
- Coffee & Tea — Califia Farms Almond Latte Cold Brew: Amazon Link
- Coffee & Tea — Death Wish Organic Espresso Roast: Amazon Link
- Coffee Creamer — Laird Superfood Coconut Creamer: Amazon Link
- Dairy — Organic Valley Grassmilk Half and Half: Amazon Link
- Cheese — Babybel Mini Original Snack Cheese: Amazon Link
- Fruit Snack — GoGo Squeez Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: Amazon Link
- Fruit Snack — Kirkland Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: Amazon Link
- Fruit Snack — Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars (Strawberry Banana): Amazon Link
- Fruit Snack — Once Upon A Farm Strawberry Banana Swirl Fruit Smoothie: Amazon Link
- Infant Formula — Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula: Amazon Link
- Infant Formula — Bobbie Organic Milk-Based Powder with Iron (Green can): Amazon Link
- Infant Formula — Bobbie Grass-Fed Milk-Based Powder (Green can): Amazon Link
- Infant Formula — ByHeart (USA-made, non-organic): Amazon Link
- Infant Formula — HiPP Bio Combiotik Stage 1 (Imported): Link unavailable on Amazon
- Infant Formula — HiPP HA Stage PRE (Imported): Link unavailable on Amazon
- Infant Formula — Holle Bio Goat Stage 2 (European, organic): Link unavailable on Amazon
- Infant Formula — Kendamil Goat Infant Formula (non-organic): Available at Target
- Infant Formula — Kendamil Organic Follow-On Milk (European, Cow Milk): Not on Amazon
- Infant Formula — Kendamil Whole Milk Infant Formula (European, pink can): Available at Target
- Infant Formula — Kendamil Organic Infant Formula (Cow Milk): Available at Target
- Ingredient — Sea Salt (Oregon, USA): Amazon Link
- Ingredient — Jovial Organic Einkorn Flour (Italy): Amazon Link
- Ingredient — Costco Kirkland Organic Hemp Seeds: Amazon Link
- Ingredient — Navitas Organic Chia Seeds (Mexico): Amazon Link
- Vinegar — Napa Valley Naturals Organic Red Wine Vinegar (California): Amazon Link
- Beans — Jovial Organic Chickpeas (Italy): Amazon Link
- Oil — Chosen Foods 100% Avocado Oil (not organic): Amazon Link
- Oil — Dr. Adorable’s Organic Perilla Seed Oil (Korea): Amazon Link
- Oil — Dr. Bronner’s Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil: Amazon Link
- Plant-Based Milk — Kiki Organic Plant-Based Original Milk: Amazon Link
- Plant-Based Milk — West Soy Unflavored Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk: Amazon Link
- Supplement — Baby Ddrops Organic Vitamin D3 for Babies: Amazon Link
- Supplement — Doctor’s Best Vitamin C with Q-C: Amazon Link
- Supplement — Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil: Amazon Link
- Supplement — Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Multivitamin Liquid with Iron: Amazon Link
- Supplement — Pendulum Metabolic Daily Dietary Supplement: Amazon Link
Access the complete set of lab reports for these and other tested products at: https://tamararubin.com/2024/05/food-articles/. Stay tuned for ongoing updates and additional tested items.
Additional Notes on Trace Arsenic Levels
In addition to the primary findings, five products tested positive for trace amounts of Arsenic. These levels are within what many health standards consider safe, yet they highlight the widespread presence of toxic elements. The products include:
- Kendamil Goat Toddler Milk (non-organic)
- That’s It Apple Cherry Bars (non-organic)
- Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil (organic)
- Now Sunflower Lecithin (non-organic)
- WishGarden Immune Boost Seasonal Rescue
Note: All Amazon affiliate links are included for your convenience and support our research initiatives.
Understanding Safety Standards and Scientific Perspectives
The Action Levels established in 2021 serve as critical safety benchmarks, indicating thresholds at which manufacturers must take corrective actions. These are not legally enforced maximums but are grounded in the latest scientific research aimed at safeguarding public health. Many industry stakeholders wrongly interpret these as permissible limits, but the scientific consensus is clear: there is no safe level of Lead exposure. Heavy metals accumulate in the human body, especially in children, making even minimal exposures potentially harmful over time.
When a product exceeds the Action Level, it signifies an urgent need to reformulate, recall, or issue public warnings. These levels are based on parts per billion (ppb) measurements, which apply universally regardless of actual serving sizes or consumption patterns. Relying solely on serving size-based thresholds is scientifically flawed since actual intake can far exceed recommended servings, especially in children or during indulgent eating episodes.
Debunking Industry Claims of Impossibility
Contrary to industry claims that producing safer, low-toxicant foods is unfeasible, our testing demonstrates that it is entirely possible. Several products on our list have shown non-detect levels for all targeted toxicants, even with detection thresholds below 1.5 ppb. This evidence underscores that safer manufacturing practices are achievable and that the industry can meet stringent safety standards without sacrificing quality or consumer trust.
Updated List of Tested Safer Products — February 15, 2025
- Baby Food — Little Spoon Kale, Carrot + Pear BabyBlends
- Baby Food — Little Spoon Butternut Squash + Blueberry BabyBlends
- Baby Food — Little Spoon Sweet Potato BabyBlends
- Baby Food — Little Spoon Sweet Potato + Carrot BabyBlends
- Baby Food — Little Spoon Banana + Pitaya BabyBlends
- Beverage — Honest Kids Organic Appley Ever After Apple Juice Drink: Amazon Link
- Beverage — Olipop Grape Tonic: Amazon Link
- Breakfast — Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Panda Puffs: Amazon Link
- Breakfast — One Degree Organic Gluten-Free Rolled Oats: Amazon Link
- Candy — Lindt White Chocolate Bar: Amazon Link
- Candy — Cavendish & Harvey Wild Berry Drops: Amazon Link
- Coffee & Tea — Chameleon Organic Cold Brew Concentrate: Amazon Link
- Coffee & Tea — Tao of Tea Organic Genmaicha: Amazon Link
- Coffee & Tea — Califia Farms Almond Latte Cold Brew: Amazon Link
- Coffee & Tea — Death Wish Organic Espresso Roast: Amazon Link
- Coffee Creamer — Laird Superfood Coconut Creamer: Amazon Link
- Dairy — Organic Valley Grassmilk Half and Half: Amazon Link
- Cheese — Babybel Mini Original: Amazon Link
- Fruit Snack — GoGo Squeez Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: Amazon Link
- Fruit Snack — Kirkland Organic Apple Sauce: Amazon Link
- Fruit Snack — Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars (Strawberry Banana): Amazon Link
- Fruit Snack — Once Upon A Farm Strawberry Banana Swirl: Amazon Link
- Infant Formula — Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula: Amazon Link
- Infant Formula — Bobbie Organic Milk-Based Powder with Iron (Green can): Amazon Link
- Infant Formula — Bobbie Grass-Fed Milk Powder (Green can): Amazon Link
- Infant Formula — ByHeart (non-organic): Link unavailable on Amazon
- Infant Formula — HiPP Bio Combiotik Stage 1: Link unavailable on Amazon
- Infant Formula — HiPP HA Stage PRE: Link unavailable on Amazon
- Infant Formula — Holle Bio Goat Stage 2: Link unavailable on Amazon
- Infant Formula — Kendamil Goat Infant Formula (non-organic): Available at Target
- Infant Formula — Kendamil Organic Follow-On Milk (European, Cow Milk): Not available on Amazon
- Infant Formula — Kendamil Whole Milk Infant Formula (European, pink can): Available at Target
- Infant Formula — Kendamil Organic Infant Formula: Available at Target
- Ingredient — Sea Salt (Oregon, USA): Amazon Link
- Ingredient — Jovial Organic Einkorn Flour (Italy): Amazon Link
- Ingredient — Costco Kirkland Organic Hemp Seeds: Amazon Link
- Ingredient — Navitas Organic Chia Seeds (Mexico): Amazon Link
- Vinegar — Napa Valley Naturals Organic Red Wine Vinegar (California): Amazon Link
- Beans — Jovial Organic Chickpeas (Italy): Amazon Link
- Oil — Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil (not organic): Amazon Link
- Oil — Dr. Adorable’s Organic Perilla Seed Oil (Korea): Amazon Link
- Oil — Dr. Bronner’s Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil: Amazon Link
- Plant-Based Milk — Kiki Organic Plant-Based Original Milk: Amazon Link
- Plant-Based Milk — West Soy Unflavored Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk: Amazon Link
- Supplement — Baby Ddrops Organic Vitamin D3 for Babies: Amazon Link
- Supplement — Doctor’s Best Vitamin C with Q-C: Amazon Link
- Supplement — Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil: Amazon Link
- Supplement — Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Multivitamin Liquid with Iron: Amazon Link
- Supplement — Pendulum Metabolic Daily Dietary Supplement: Amazon Link
For the full laboratory reports and detailed testing data, visit: https://tamararubin.com/2024/05/food-articles/. We continue to expand our testing efforts and will keep providing updates to ensure your family’s safety.
Understanding Trace Arsenic Findings and Their Implications
In our recent tests, five products revealed trace levels of Arsenic, which, while within current safety thresholds, serve as a stark reminder of the pervasive contamination of our food supply. These products include:
- Kendamil Goat Toddler Milk (non-organic)
- That’s It Apple Cherry Bars (non-organic)
- Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil (organic)
- Now Sunflower Lecithin (non-organic)
- WishGarden Immune Boost Seasonal Rescue
Note: All associated Amazon links are affiliate links that support our ongoing research and advocacy work.
Final Thoughts: Scientific Standards and Public Health Policy
The Action Levels established by leading health authorities in 2021 serve as crucial benchmarks. They are designed to trigger manufacturer action—reformulation, recalls, or public alerts—once contaminant levels surpass these thresholds. Importantly, these are not maximum allowable limits but are rooted in the latest scientific evidence emphasizing that no level of Lead exposure is safe. Heavy metals tend to bioaccumulate, meaning that even small, seemingly insignificant exposures can have long-term, cumulative health effects, especially in children.
Relying on outdated or industry-favorable standards that are tied to arbitrary serving sizes underestimates the true exposure risks. Our focus remains firmly on protecting children’s health, advocating for standards that apply to any consumed amount, and promoting manufacturing practices that prioritize safety over profit.
Support Our Work
To continue this vital research, consider supporting our independent testing via our GoFundMe campaigns. Your contributions enable us to expand our testing scope, refine our methodologies, and continue advocating for safer food standards. Together, we can make a significant difference in public health and consumer safety.
Conclusion
This report underscores the critical importance of rigorous, science-based testing and transparent reporting. By choosing products that meet or fall below established safety Action Levels, consumers can reduce their toxicant exposure significantly. Stay informed, stay safe, and thank you for supporting our mission to protect children and families from harmful contaminants in everyday foods and supplements.