The Food and Drug Administration said in a report that FDA monitoring found high levels of toxic heavy metals in several U.S. food products, with baby food among the most contaminated with arsenic and lead.
 
The FDA found that 15 % of the samples contained lead, 43 % contained arsenic and 61 % contained cadmium, United Press International reported. FDA also found that metallic arsenic was detectable in 51 % of 384 collected baby food samples . Foods with the highest levels of arsenic included baby cereals, teething biscuits and puffed snacks. In addition, 65 % of the tested baby food samples contained cadmium, 21 % contained lead, and 3 % contained mercury. Charlotte Brody, director of the US-baseD non-profit organization Bright Futures for Healthy Babies, said contaminant levels in baby food are concerning. "Baby food is among the most contaminated with inorganic arsenic of all the foods tested, and also among the most contaminated with lead of all the foods tested. No food should contain lead, arsenic or cadmium. This is very disturbing."
 
FDA announced on its website that hundreds of people across the United States have been reported to fall ill after eating lentils from Daily Harvest, a fast-food company, and nearly 100 have been hospitalized, , reported NBC. The cause of the illness was not clear for now.
 
The Food and Drug Administration said it had received hundreds of complaints as of 14 July, with 277 people suffering from gastrointestinal illnesses and liver abnormalities after eating frozen food from Daily Harvest, including French lentils and leek crumbles. 96 people were hospitalized. The last reported illness was on July 9.
 
In a lawsuit filed in New York State Superior Court this week, the family of a 4-month-old baby claims both mother and child became ill after eating "French lentils and leek crumbles" from Daily Harvest. According to the lawsuit, the lactating mother suffered vomiting and diarrhea after eating the lentil product in late May this year. In June, the mother took the product again, and both she and her baby were hospitalized with seasonal abdominal pain and gastrointestinal distress.
 
Daily Harvest voluntarily recalled its "French lentils and leek crumbles" in June after consumers reported illness. The company said it has started comprehensive tests to rule out potential causes and find answers to the problem.