Protect Kids & Babies
Toxic-Free Kids' Food Campaign
Consumer Reports is fighting to ensure that every child has access to safe and healthy food free of potentially harmful dyes, heavy metals and chemicals.
Our investigation of infant formulas found that some of the products tested contained potentially harmful levels of arsenic and lead, and PFAS "forever chemical"’ were detected in almost every sample. While many products tested did not raise concerns, parents need assurance that all formula choices are safe for their babies.
The FDA oversees the safety of infant formula, but recent government layoffs have targeted some of the agency’s staff, jeopardizing the agency's ability to protect our food system and putting lives at risk. Join us in calling for the FDA to have the staffing and resources it needs to ensure all infant formula is free of harmful contaminants.
Let's Get Dyes out of Food
We have power when we speak out together to get harmful toxins out kids' food - and we're making progress! For years, we pushed the FDA to ban Red Dye 3, a known carcinogen used to brighten thousands of products like candy and kids' snacks, and in January 2025 the agency announced a ban on the dye in all food products. We also helped pass legislation in California making it the first state to ban synthetic dyes in school lunches.
Now, we need to use our power again to ban other chemical food dyes that have been linked to health problems like hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral effects, especially in kids.
Sign our petition calling on the FDA to take the next step and ban all synthetic food dyes, and let’s get these risky chemicals out of our food!
Action in the States
California bans harmful ultraprocessed foods in school meals
A new law in California supported by Consumer Reports will begin to phase harmful ultraprocessed foods out of schools. Ultraprocessed foods (or 'UPFs') are industrial foods that are high in saturated fats, sugar and salt, combined with colors, flavors, stabilizers and preservatives. They offer little nutritional value, and are linked to a range of health harms. Read more about the new law here.
Taking on Plastic Chemicals in MN
A Consumer Reports investigation of supermarket staples found phthalates in almost every food tested, often at high levels. These plastic chemicals get into food through the production processes and packaging, and are known endocrine disruptors that contribute to health problems ranging from diabetes and obesity to certain cancers and birth defects.
Now the Minnesota legislature is taking action with a bill that what would require companies to test food products for phthalates and publicly report their findings. Live in Minnesota? Send a message to your state legislators now asking them to support the bill!