On April 5, 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced significant progress in reducing levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury in infant and toddler food. In addition to monitoring the safety of the general food supply, the FDA has placed special emphasis on reducing levels of inorganic arsenic in baby rice cereal. The FDA has set an action level of 100ug/kg for inorganic arsenic in baby rice cereal, which represents a nearly 30% reduction from previous levels. Furthermore, the FDA has made efforts to lower the action levels for lead in processed baby and toddler food, resulting in a 24-27% reduction in the risk of exposure to lead in these foods.

So far, the FDA has made significant progress in reducing children's exposure to food contaminants. The FDA aims to reduce this exposure to zero, but this will take time. The FDA has developed methods to minimize exposure to lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury in foods that are frequently consumed by infants and toddlers. The FDA prioritizes the issue of infant and toddler exposure because their small size and metabolism make them more vulnerable to the harmful effects of these contaminants.