In Austin, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a historic agreement with baby‑food maker Plum Organics that will require the company to test for dangerous heavy metals, enforce strict limits, and make all test results publicly available. The settlement marks the first time a Texas baby‑food manufacturer has committed to such rigorous standards, and Paxton is urging other producers, including industry leader Gerber, to follow suit.
Background of the investigation
Paxton launched a wide‑sweeping investigation into the baby‑food sector in August 2025, issuing Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) to multiple companies after reports surfaced that internal industry standards allowed potentially harmful levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury in products marketed to infants and young children. While trace amounts of these metals occur naturally in fruits and vegetables, higher concentrations can damage neurological development.
Key provisions of the Plum agreement
Under the settlement, Plum Organics will:
- Follow FDA guidance for lead testing and permissible levels.
- Adopt current European Union guidance for cadmium and inorganic arsenic, since the FDA has not set action levels for those metals.
- Implement an internal limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for mercury in all baby‑food pouches.
- Reject any product lot that exceeds the applicable standards.
- Publish heavy‑metal testing results on its website for all Texas‑marketed baby‑food items, searchable by UPC code, lot number, or “best‑by” date.
- Provide QR‑code access to lead‑testing results on product packaging, as required by FDA guidance.
These steps give parents direct, transparent insight into what is in the foods they feed their children.
Paxton’s response and broader goals
“I will not allow dangerous amounts of contaminants and heavy metals in baby food. This is a commonsense issue, and I commend Plum for agreeing to strengthen its standards and provide parents with greater transparency about what is in these products,” Paxton said. “My office will continue to investigate the baby‑food industry to stop any company from misleading parents about the safety and quality of the products that they rely on to feed their children.”
The attorney general’s office emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional manufacturers are being urged to adopt comparable testing protocols. Paxton specifically called on Gerber and other major producers to match Plum’s commitment, arguing that uniform standards are essential to protect Texas families.
Implications for Texas families and the industry
For parents, the agreement offers a new level of confidence that the baby foods on store shelves meet stringent safety criteria. For the industry, it sets a precedent that could drive nationwide adoption of tighter testing, especially as consumers increasingly demand transparency.
Consumer‑advocacy groups have praised the move as a step toward safeguarding children’s health, while some industry representatives note that the EU guidelines are more conservative than current U.S. regulations. Nonetheless, the settlement reflects a growing trend of state officials taking proactive measures to protect public health.
Next steps
Plum Organics will begin publishing its testing data on its website within the next 30 days, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office will monitor compliance through periodic audits. Parents can access the information by visiting Plum’s dedicated testing portal or scanning the QR code on product packaging.
As the investigation proceeds, the Paxton administration plans to release further guidance for baby‑food manufacturers and may consider legislative proposals to codify heavy‑metal limits at the state level.
Original reporting: Focus Daily News — read the source article.
