Gov. DeSantis and Florida health leaders discuss baby formula concerns

Testing found toxins in baby formula: Florida report

The Florida Department of Health ran tests on 24 types of baby formula and found that two thirds of them have chemicals that exceed federal standards. FOX 13's Evan Axelbank reports.

BARTOW, Fla. - Florida leaders are sounding the alarm when it comes to baby formula as Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by First Lady Casey DeSantis, Dr. Joseph Ladapo and Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins in Bartow on Friday to discuss their concerns about its safety.

The Florida Department of Health ran tests on 24 types of baby formula and found that two thirds of them have chemicals that exceed federal standards.

What they're saying:

"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 Ron 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."

Casey DeSantis says that these hidden toxins are problematic to consumers.

"Small repeated exposures to hidden toxins can really add up in ways we don’t always see until a problem occurs, and that is especially true when it comes to babies who are consuming products unknowingly while parents are doing everything that they can to try to make the best decisions that they can for their children," she said.

Ladapo says that he is not directing parents to avoid baby formula, he just wants to give them information that they can use to make informed decisions.

The surgeon general said that the types of formula are brand names such as Enfamil and Similac.

What we don't know:

It is unclear how the health department chose those formulas, as not all types from each brand were listed.

The formulas were rated based on the presence of five chemicals: arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and pesticides.

"We tested for pesticides, and we also tested for heavy metals and, particularly, arsenic, mercury, lead and cadmium," Ladapo said. "These are all heavy metals that are problematic. Mercury is probably one of the most toxic things that you can put into a person’s body."

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Mercury was found in all 16 of the samples that tested positive, with three formulas showing three or more undesirable results.

What they're saying:

 The American Academy of Pediatrics says while this sounds alarming on the surface, the study itself must be examined before the wider community can make decisions.

 "We have to have more details," Dr. Rana Alissa, of the AAP Florida Chapter, said. "If the report is true, it's really concerning. But my message to parents is don't panic."

 Dr. Alissa has examined tens of thousands of children, and says she never found one who had developed something chronic that could be traced to the formula they drank.

 "We have these heavy metals, we're surrounded by them. They are in the air we breathe, they're in the soil," Alissa said. "Baby formulas are very well regulated."

In response to other similar tests done in December by Consumer Reports, the companies that make baby formulas said in part that they "have multiple quality controls to satisfy all regulatory requirements."

FOX 13 has reached out to the companies regarding this particular study, but we have not heard back.

In response to other similar tests done in December by consumer reports, the companies that make baby formulas said in part that they have multiple quality controls to satisfy all regulatory requirements.

What's next:

Casey DeSantis says the health department will have more tests like this on other types of products to release in the coming days.

"We are not going to stop at baby formula. We have a lot more announcements. We, over the past few months, have been doing a lot of testing. We have been looking into a lot of products. And we’re going to be talking about this a lot, quite a bit, over the next few days and honestly weeks," she said.

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