Committee approves HB 507 to require testing and labeling of locally made baby food

The House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee on July 10 approved House Bill 507, which would require testing of representative samples of locally manufactured baby-food batches for toxic heavy metals and require labels disclosing detected levels.

Mr. Scott, the committee staff member who summarized the measure, said the bill would require testing for lead, mercury, cadmium and inorganic arsenic and other heavy metals and would require labeling that discloses detected levels. Representative Hambridge, the bill sponsor, told the committee he introduced the bill to protect “some of our most vulnerable and youngest Pennsylvanians,” citing federal investigations that found concerning levels of heavy metals in baby foods.

“Parents should not have to wonder whether the foods they feed their babies are safe,” Representative Hambridge said, urging a positive vote.

Chair statements and a committee amendment (A03760) changed the agency charged with testing from the Department of Health to the Department of Agriculture and adjusted the arsenic level required to trigger testing and disclosure. Committee staff summarized the amendment as: “This amendment changes the agency responsible to the Department of Agriculture and adjust[s] the level of arsenic to be tested.”

The committee recorded no negative votes on the amendment; the amendment was adopted and the bill, as amended, passed the committee without opposition in the proceedings recorded in the transcript.

The committee moved the bill forward as amended; no floor date was recorded in the committee transcript.