INFANTS Act of 2025
INFANTS Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# INFANTS Act of 2025 Summary **What It Does:** The INFANTS Act would require manufacturers of infant and toddler food to test their products every three months for harmful contaminants like lead and arsenic. If a company fails to follow these testing requirements, the FDA would prohibit their products from being sold across state lines. The bill also gives the FDA authority to expand these testing requirements to other foods if needed, and requires the agency to allow companies a chance to voluntarily recall contaminated products before taking enforcement action. **Who It Affects:** This bill primarily impacts food and formula manufacturers that produce baby food and toddler food products.
It also affects parents and caregivers who purchase these products, as the testing requirements are intended to improve food safety. The FDA would need to implement and oversee the new testing and enforcement procedures. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress by Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes (D-OH) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Improving Newborns’ Food and Nutrition Testing Safety Act of 2025 or the INFANTS Act of 2025This bill requires infant and toddler food to be tested periodically for contaminants and imposes other safety requirements on food and formula manufacturers.Specifically, the bill requires facilities that manufacture or process infant and toddler food in final form to conduct quarterly tests for contaminants, including lead and arsenic. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may subject other foods to this requirement as appropriate. If a facility that is subject to these requirements fails to comply, food manufactured or processed there is deemed adulterated and may not be introduced into interstate commerce.The bill also specifies that if the FDA determines an infant and toddler food, other than infant formula, contains a contaminant that renders the food adulterated, the FDA must provide the responsible party with an opportunity to initiate a voluntary recall. (Under current law, if a responsible party does not voluntarily recall an adulterated product, the FDA may impose a mandatory recall.)Further, if testing of an infant formula reveals the presence of certain pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes or Salmonella, the manufacturer must (1) notify the FDA within 24 hours, (2) properly dispose of the product, and (3) provide the FDA with test results and isolates from the formula.Finally, the bill requires manufacturers of powdered infant formula to monitor the effectiveness of sanitation and hygiene controls where the formula has the potential to be exposed to Cronobacter spp. or Salmonella.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.