ATLANTA,None — There's concerning news about arsenic in baby formula touted as "certified organic."
A new study found the same problem with several brands of energy bars sold in the health food aisle.
The study from Dartmouth says the one brand that lists a sweetener made from rice measured 20 times higher for arsenic than other formulas.
Channel 2 consumer investigator Jim Strickland found the formula on the shelf of a metro grocery store and found evidence it's quite popular.
ABC News and research done by Channel 2 Action News identified the formula as Baby's Only Organic.
The label lists its No. 1 ingredient as organic brown rice syrup, the suspected source of high levels of arsenic.
"The reason you went to organic was possibly to get away from things like high fructose corn syrup. Now you see that the brown rice syrup may have arsenic, you weigh what is concerning to you," pediatrician Dr. Robert Wiskind said.
Researchers found arsenic levels in the dairy-based formula triple the standard for drinking water. Researchers found the soy formula had six times the EPA drinking water limit. The soy version is popular enough that the first store Strickland went to was sold out. He then found it elsewhere.
"It's really alarming," parent Melanie Paidipalli said. "There were some comments on several websites that mentioned that it could be potentially harmful."
"So what decision did you make?" Strickland asked her.
"We did not buy that formula. We actually threw it out," Paidipalli said.
The study also found elevated arsenic in energy bars but did not name them dangerous.
http://bcove.me/aso09qv9
It didn't name names, but popular bars Strickland found, Cliff bars, Two Degrees and Kashi Go Lean, list brown rice syrup as prime ingredients.
The study calls for a national standard for arsenic in food. So far, there isn't one, only a standard for water.
Dr. Wiskind said one study should not be cause for a panic.
"You shouldn't worry too much about one particular study. Now, if this is confirmed with other studies, then I think it will lead to this type of product being pulled from the shelves due to concern about arsenic," Wiskind said.
The makers of Baby's Only Organic said they tested the rice syrup and it didn't show high levels of arsenic, but they are looking for alternatives. To read their statement to Channel 2 Action News click here.
Strickland said he is still awaiting statements from Kashi and Cliff Bars. No one answered at Two Degrees food bars.
WSBTV
