Study finds arsenic in toddler formula

(WTNH) - First it was Apple and Grape Juice.

Now high levels of arsenic are being found in all foods that use organic brown rice syrup as a sweetener.

The main culprits: cereals, energy bars and toddler formula.

Most troubling is the high levels of arsenic in the formula given to very young children.

ABC News Chief Health and Medical Editor, Dr. Richard Besser says, "Two types of this formula had high levels of arsenic. The brand involved here is called Baby's Only organic toddler formula. Both the dairy variety and the soy variety had unacceptably high levels of arsenic."

The two formulas that are implicated in the study are Baby's Only organic dairy toddler formula and Baby's Only organic soy toddler formula. Both are made by Nature's One.

The company says its' supplier uses an independent laboratory to test arsenic and the results show "undetectable" amounts of arsenic.

Dr. Besser adds one of the reasons researchers at Dartmouth College did the study was that rice can concentrate arsenic from soil.

[Read the report here]

He says, "If you're exposed to arsenic at higher than acceptable levels for years, you are at increase risk for skin changes, for skin damage, for certain kinds of cancers, for liver damage, for nerve damage."
 
Dr. Besser's advice to parents, "If you're breast feeding you don't need to worry about this, if you're using an infant formula you don't need to worry about this, if you're using a toddler formula for an older child, look to see, are you using the one that is in this study."

Now if you are using another type of formula, Dr. Besser says to look for organic brown rice syrup on the label.

If it is present, be sure to talk to your doctor about what to do.

For the rest of the population he recommends eating a diverse diet to reduce the risk across the board.