BARTOW, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis' administration is putting a spotlight on infant formula safety on Friday in Bartow, where Florida’s MAHA Commission unveiled early test results raising new concerns about what’s in some baby formula.
“What we just want is, basically, transparency and the truth, and we want people to be able to make the best decision for them. Not necessarily what would be in the best decision of some, you know, manufacturer or something like that,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
WATCH: DeSantis administration unveils early test results on baby formulas, raising new concerns
According to the commission, lab testing of 24 formulas found arsenic or other potentially harmful substances in 16 of them.
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“Parents should be able to trust that the products that they bring home are safe. They should not have to wonder whether the food that they are consuming or they’re giving to their children could be quietly impacting their health over time,” said first lady Casey DeSantis.
Those findings largely mirror a recent Consumer Reports investigation, which tested 41 powdered formulas sold nationwide. About half contained potentially concerning levels of at least one contaminant. Things like arsenic, lead, PFAS, BPA or acrylamide. The other half showed low or no detectable levels, pointing to safer options already on store shelves. While disturbing, one mother said the findings are not surprising.
"My son is eight, so I think it's been an issue that is ongoing, because he was diagnosed when he was 2.5 years old with autism and they're relating it to the heavy metals and everything," said Shelby Vaillancourt.
The state’s announcement also comes as the formula industry faces renewed scrutiny. In December, the FDA expanded ByHeart’s recall to include every formula the company has ever produced. Not long after Consumer Reports released its findings, federal regulators announced a new initiative aimed at tightening oversight of infant formula.
Florida commission members used the results to argue that even heavily regulated products can be vulnerable to environmental and manufacturing risks.
“The Florida Department of Health tested 24 infant formula products widely available in Florida and found elevated levels of heavy metals like mercury in 16, pointing to systemic problems in sourcing or manufacturing,” said Casey DeSantis. “That’s why Florida has stepped up to protect our most vulnerable, working with federal partners to drive accountability and give families more options. Thanks to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., families on WIC will be able to select from a wider variety of infant formulas if they want to switch products based on the findings of the Healthy Florida First Initiative.”
“Thanks to the vision of Governor DeSantis and the first lady, Florida continues to lead in public health and health care,” said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A Ladapo. “The food testing being conducted as well as the focus on nutrition is imperative to ensure Floridians have the information needed to make healthy choices for themselves and their families.”
Pediatrician Dr. David Berger suggests parents be proactive by going directly to companies to verify whether their products are safe.
"One of the things that they should ask for is what's called a certificate of analysis. Every company should be producing this. Some companies may publish it on their websites. Some don't, some may want to hide it. But you want to know what they are checking for and what the levels are that they are checking for," Berger said.
Full results of infant testing formula can be found here.
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