Consumer Reports tests 90 baby formulas

Consumer Reports said on May 20 that it had tested 90 infant formulas for contaminants including lead, inorganic arsenic and bisphenols such as BPA, extending a safety review that has drawn attention from parents, pediatricians and federal regulators. The testing comes a year after the nonprofit’s earlier formula investigation helped prompt the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to announce “Operation Stork Speed,” an effort to increase oversight and testing of infant formula products. Consumer Reports said contaminant levels varied widely across products, with some formulas showing low or non-detectable levels and others raising concerns. The new coverage this week has focused not only on safety, but also on which lower-cost formulas are available to families using the federal Women, Infants and Children program. ### Which formulas did Consumer Reports test this time? Consumer Reports said its latest round included 49 additional formulas published on March 3, 2026, after an earlier investigation of more than 40 powdered formulas in 2025. The newer group included liquid formulas, ready-to-feed products, hypoallergenic formulas and alternative-protein products such as soy- and goat-milk-based formulas, according to the nonprofit. Taken together, the two rounds account for the 90 formulas cited in this week’s local television summaries. (wesh.com) March 3 findings from Consumer Reports said 26 of the 49 newly tested formulas had contaminants at levels it considered potentially concerning. The organization said almost half of those 49 products were still “good choices,” including some made by Bobbie, Earth’s Best, Enfamil and Similac. ### What contaminants were screened for? (consumerreports.org) Consumer Reports said it screened formulas for arsenic, lead and PFAS chemicals, along with acrylamide, cadmium, mercury and several bisphenols including BPA. In this week’s broadcast summaries, the contaminants highlighted for parents were lead, inorganic arsenic and BPA. (consumerreports.org) Sana Mujahid, manager of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, said in the March 3 release that infant formula is “a critical source of nutrition for millions of infants” and that parents depend on it to be safe. Mujahid said the testing found some brands with potentially concerning levels of arsenic and lead, but also found “many safer alternatives that are widely available.” (advocacy.consumerreports.org) ### What did the testing show for families on WIC? Consumer Reports said two formulas commonly covered through WIC — powdered Similac Advance and powdered Enfamil Infant — ranked among its top choices for low to non-detectable contaminant levels. That detail has been central to this week’s affordability coverage because WIC often limits families to one primary brand selected through state contracts. (advocacy.consumerreports.org) The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most current data, cited by Consumer Reports, says infants in WIC consume an estimated 56% of infant formula in the United States. Erin Moore, founder of infant feeding support consultancy Fed With Love, told Consumer Reports that most states use a competitive bidding process to select a primary formula brand, with contracts driven largely by manufacturer rebates. (consumerreports.org) ### Why has affordability become part of the story? Consumer Reports said this week that formula remains a major expense for many families, especially those relying on WIC. In local-TV guidance distributed on May 21, the group recommended buying formula at wholesale clubs such as Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s, and using auto-delivery programs from retailers or formula makers, which it said can reduce costs by 5% to 15% and may include free shipping. (consumerreports.org) May 21 coverage also said organic formulas are typically not covered by WIC, leaving families to pay out of pocket if they want them. The same reports said a proposed federal bill would require states to contract with at least two formula manufacturers instead of one, a change that could broaden choices for WIC families if enacted. ### What happens next? (wesh.com) The FDA said in 2025 that Operation Stork Speed would strengthen oversight of infant formula after Consumer Reports shared its earlier findings with the agency. Brian Ronholm, Consumer Reports’ director of food policy, said in March that the FDA should set enforceable heavy-metal limits and regularly test formula products. (wesh.com) Consumer Reports’ latest formula test results, its WIC-specific guidance and its buying advice are already posted across its baby-formula coverage published in March and highlighted again this week. Parents using WIC will continue to depend on state contract rules unless Congress changes the program’s manufacturer requirements. (consumerreports.org) (advocacy.consumerreports.org)