U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is pressing major baby formula manufacturers for answers following a recent Consumer Reports study that revealed potentially harmful levels of lead and inorganic arsenic in some infant formulas sold across Georgia and the nation.

Senator Ossoff has sent letters to the CEOs of Abbott Nutrition and Mead Johnson, demanding explanations regarding the study’s findings. The study indicated elevated levels of these toxic chemicals in some of their products. “Infant formula is essential for parents feeding their newborns, regardless of whether the formula is used exclusively or as a supplement,” Senator Ossoff stated in his letters. “Children are simply precious. They’re everything to us. Their safety and well-being, including the safety of formula consumed by infants, are our highest concerns.” Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that approximately 25% of breastfed newborns in Georgia receive formula within the first two days of life, and by six months, around 71% of infants have been fed formula or other supplements.

While Consumer Reports food and safety research manager Sana Mujahid advises parents not to panic, she suggests consulting with their pediatrician about potentially switching formulas to one with no known contaminants. Mujahid also noted that while these chemicals are naturally present in the environment and found in other products, the goal is to minimize their levels in infant formula as much as possible. Both Abbott Nutrition and Enfamil have challenged the study’s results, asserting that heavy metals are never intentionally added to their products and that trace levels in the food supply are not unique to infant formula.

Abbott Nutrition previously faced a nationwide formula shortage in 2022 after recalling several products, including Similac, due to a fatal outbreak of cronobacter infections. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched “Operation Stork Speed,” a program aimed at ensuring the safety of infant formula.

The program includes a nutrient review process and increased testing for heavy metals and other contaminants, with implementation expected to take several months.