{"id":282,"date":"2020-04-09T14:03:13","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T18:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/leadsafe\/?page_id=282"},"modified":"2026-04-03T12:15:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:15:50","slug":"information-for-parents","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/leadsafe\/information-for-parents\/","title":{"rendered":"Information for Parents"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Children may be exposed to lead from old paint, water or other sources in their environment. Lead exposure can lead to lowered IQ, developmental delays, and attention problems. Most children with lead in their blood don't show any sign that they are sick. The best way to find out if your child has been exposed to lead is with a simple blood test from a health care provider. Protect your family from lead poisoning by learning more about where to find lead and how to prevent exposure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Important Updates<\/h3>
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNew Law Requires Routine Heavy Metal Testing in Baby Food Products - January 2026 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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New Law Requires Routine Heavy Metal Testing in Baby Food Products.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This law went into effect January 1st, 2026 and is called the Baby Food Protection Act.\u00a0 It requires manufacturers of baby food to test levels of four toxic elements. The manufacturers then must disclose the information on their website and via scannable QR codes on certain product labels. The four toxic elements tested for are lead<\/strong>, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury.<\/p>\n

Under the new law, the manufacture or sale of baby food products that exceed the FDA\u2019s action levels<\/a><\/span> are banned in the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n

Learn more about lead testing in baby food.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Reference: Code of Virginia \u00a7 3.2-5125.1., Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) News Release<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Lead Exposure Risk by County<\/h2>\n

Every child is at risk of being exposed to lead.<\/strong> However, there are some areas in Virginia where the lead exposure risk may be higher than other areas. Review the Lead Exposure Risk map to determine lead exposure risk in your area. Talk to your health care provider about getting your children tested for lead in their blood if:<\/p>\n