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F.D.A. Releases Results From Major Infant Formula Safety Study
When the Food and Drug Administration announced “Operation Stork Speed” in March 2025, it vowed to improve the safety and quality of U.S. infant formulas — in part by increasing its testing of them for heavy metals, pesticides and other contaminants.
Now, the first round of test results are in, and overall, federal health officials and outside experts described them as reassuring.
Between 2023 and 2025, the agency purchased more than 300 infant formula samples from stores and online retailers and tested them for heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury), pesticides, phthalates (chemicals commonly found in plastics) and PFAS (or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, sometimes called “forever chemicals”).
The agency reported that the levels of all contaminants were low, and the formulas were safe. Outside experts who reviewed the raw data agreed that the findings on heavy metals and pesticides were good news, but several were concerned about the low levels of phthalates and “forever chemicals” detected in the samples.
While these chemicals are widespread in the food supply and have even been found in breast milk, their presence in formula is a concern given that they have been linked to various health problems, said Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington.
MIT Study Finds Children More Vulnerable to Cancer-Causing Chemical in Water
A new study from MIT indicates that a cancer-causing chemical found in some medications and in drinking water contaminated by industrial activity may pose a much greater risk to children than to adults. In experiments with mice, researchers discovered that young animals exposed to water containing this compound, called NDMA, developed far more DNA damage and cancer than older mice given the same exposure.
These results may help clarify earlier findings that linked prenatal exposure to NDMA with higher rates of childhood cancer among people living near a contaminated site in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The research also highlights the importance of studying how potential carcinogens affect people at different stages of life.
Babies Exposed to Air Pollution During Pregnancy Take Longer to Learn to Speak, Research Finds
Babies exposed to higher levels of air pollution in the early stages of pregnancy take longer to learn to speak than those exposed to lower levels in the womb, new research suggests. A study by researchers from King’s College London found exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine and ultra-fine particulate matter during the first trimester of pregnancy delayed speech development at 18 months.
For premature babies, the impact was worse: as well as delayed development of their ability to speak, they were also found to have impaired motor skills. “This research should act as a wake-up call, because air pollution is not just an environmental issue, it’s a matter of justice and equality from the very start of life,” said Tyrone Scott, head of campaigns at War on Want.
Air Pollution Linked to Recurrent Respiratory Infections in Infants
Exposure to common urban air pollutants in the first year of life is associated with a higher burden of respiratory infections and wheezing, according to a longitudinal study led by the Precision Vaccines Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. The findings were presented late last week at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2026 Meeting in Boston.
The analysis, which looked at data from infants enrolled in the Immune Development in EArly Life Rome cohort, found that greater cumulative exposure to particulate matter (PM₁₀), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) was tied to more frequent physician-diagnosed respiratory infections during the first year of life.
Infancy is a critical window for immune system development, and airborne pollutants are increasingly recognized as potential immune-system disruptors.
Iowa Families Plead for Pediatric Cancer Research Funding as Lawmakers Clash Over How to Pay for It
Iowa lawmakers from both parties say they want to direct $3 million to pediatric cancer research this year. What they still have not decided is how to get there. The Iowa House has already passed a bill that would pay for the funding through the state budget. The Senate approved a separate plan that would create a new tax on vape products and nicotine pouches, with the first $3 million raised going to pediatric cancer research.
The divide between the two approaches was on full display Monday at the Iowa Statehouse, where parents, survivors and advocates packed a House subcommittee hearing on the Senate proposal. Some public health advocates opposed the bill, arguing the tax is too small to curb nicotine use and should not be tied to funding cancer research.
Families who have lived through childhood cancer urged lawmakers to move the bill forward, saying children in treatment cannot wait for a cleaner political solution.
Many said Iowa’s lack of dedicated state funding for pediatric cancer research has real consequences for children and their families.
