Lawmakers, industry and advocates debate QR‑code labeling for infant formula as amendment seeks to remove formula exemption

The House Agriculture, Food Resiliency & Forestry Committee heard testimony April 17 on a proposed amendment that would remove an existing exemption for infant formula and require manufacturers to make heavy‑metal testing information available to consumers through a QR code once specified trigger conditions in other states are met.

Craig Fellner, director of government affairs for the Infant Nutrition Council of America, told the panel that infant formula is distinct from baby food because it is an FDA‑regulated product with mandated nutrients and extensive testing. "My name is Craig Fellner, and I am the director of government affairs for the Infant Nutrition Council of America," he said, explaining that manufacturers test ingredients on arrival, during production and the finished product — including multi‑week finished‑product testing to check for heavy metals and bacteria.

Advocates countered that transparency has driven improvements in baby food and could do the same for formula. Tom Neltner, national director of Unleaded Kids, said the FDA uses the phrase "toxic element" for arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead and that public disclosure encourages…