Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit – July 2025 Update

Individuals are filing baby food lawsuits against Walmart because the heavy metals in its baby food may be causing children to develop autism. These lawsuits have been consolidated into MDL# 3:24-md-3101-JSC (IN RE: Baby Food Products Liability Litigation) in the Northern District of California. As of June 2025, there are 167 lawsuits pending in the federal multidistrict litigation. The presiding judge is Jacqueline Scott Corley. This lawsuit is in the early stages. There are also lawsuits against Parent’s Choice baby foods filed in state courts. People are continuing to file Walmart baby food lawsuits today.

Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit Timeline & News – Month Year

June 22, 2025: Lawsuits Against Walmart Because of Heavy Metals in Its Baby Foods Surpass 150

Walmart and other baby food manufacturers face 167 federal lawsuits filed by parents whose children developed autism, ADHD, and other neurological conditions. Those who have filed these claims believe the high amounts of heavy metals like lead, mercury, inorganic arsenic, and cadmium are to blame for the damage to their children’s brains. More parents can join this active litigation if they believe their child’s autism was caused by the heavy metals in Walmart’s Parent’s Choice baby foods. 

April 2025: Walmart Must Follow New CA Lead Disclosure Law

A Reuters study has shown that many baby food companies failed to meet California’s new lead disclosure rules. A new California law (AB 899) required most baby food companies to periodically test the heavy metal content in their products and post the results online if they sell products in the state. As companies begin to comply with the new law, which took effect on January 1, 2025, people have discovered that many companies are selling baby food products with more than the maximum allowable amount of lead under California’s standards. In the past, Walmart has failed to test its products for heavy metals, such as lead. Time will tell if they comply with these new regulations and, if so, what the results will reveal.

January 2025: Walmart Must Comply with New Guidance on Lead in Baby Foods

The FDA has updated its guidance on lead content in baby foods like those sold under Walmart’s Parent’s Choice brand. The FDA’s Closer to Zero campaign was launched in 2021 after a Congressional Report showed concerning levels of heavy metals in food intended for babies and small children. Four years later, the FDA has finalized regulations for the lead content in single-ingredient foods, combination foods, and dry infant cereals made for babies and young children. For example, dry infant cereals can now only have up to 20 ppb of lead, and fruits can only have up to 10 ppb of lead. This new regulation, which is only guidance, was put in place to help protect developing brains and bodies from the harmful effects of this toxic heavy metal. 

September 29, 2021: Congressional Report Exposes High Levels of Heavy Metals in Walmart Baby Food

In a follow-up report published in September 2021, Congress indicated that Walmart responded to its requests for heavy metal testing data. According to the disclosures, Walmart had a “concerning lack of attention” to the heavy metal content in its baby foods. Additionally, Walmart appeared to abandon its previous standards, which allowed contaminated baby food products to reach shelves across the United States. These choices may have put many babies in danger of neurological harm from the toxic heavy metals in their food. 

February 4, 2021: Walmart Refuses to Tell Congress About the Heavy Metals in Its Baby Foods

A Congressional Report revealed staggering rates of heavy metals in baby foods made by household names, including Gerber, Beech-Nut, and HappyBABY. The data showed that these popular brands allowed finished products to have upwards of 913 parts per billion of arsenic. The FDA’s maximum level of arsenic in bottled water is 10 parts per billion. Walmart and two other companies ignored Congress’s request for data, which raised red flags about what they were afraid the data would show.

What is the Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit About?

Parents and advocates are suing Walmart and other popular brands of baby foods because their products have high amounts of heavy metals in them. Some of the heavy metals found in commercial baby foods, such as those sold by Walmart, include lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. These substances are known neurotoxins, and many parents believe they are the reason their children developed autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other neurological conditions. They are seeking compensation for their losses and advocating for much-needed change to protect infants from further harm.

Walmart Lawsuit Information
Lawsuit Name:	Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit
Main Injuries:	Autism, ADHD, neurological harm
Defendants:	Walmart (Parent’s Choice)
Mass tort or class action?	Mass Tort
MDL Number:	3:24-md-03101-JSC
Court Name (Venue):	Northern District of California
Have There Been Settlements?	No
Active Lawsuit?	Yes

Why Are People Filing Walmart Baby Food Lawsuits?

People are filing Walmart baby food lawsuits because reports have shown that Walmart’s Parent’s Choice brand has high levels of heavy metals in it. Many scientific studies have suggested that heavy metal exposure can interrupt a child’s brain development. Additionally, research is beginning to show that children with autism have a higher level of heavy metals in their systems compared to their neuro-typical peers. People believe that Walmart has an obligation to test its products and take steps to reduce the amount of heavy metals in their baby foods. They also think Walmart should have warned the public about the contents of their Parent’s Choice products so parents could make informed choices about what they feed their children.

Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit Spotlight

Hernandez, et al v Walmart, et al, Case No. 3:25-cv-00852

Miranda N. Hernandez sued Walmart on behalf of her child, N.G.H., because N.G.H. developed a neurodevelopmental condition (i.e., autism and other physical injuries) allegedly due to the heavy metals in Walmart’s baby food. Miranda believes (based on reports) that Walmart and the other baby food companies she is suing were aware of the toxic substances in their products. She claims that Walmart and the other companies should have warned her about the baby foods’ heavy metal contamination. 

She requests a range of compensation on behalf of her child, including pain and suffering, reimbursement for medical expenses, and loss of quality of life. Walmart denies all wrongdoing; however, Miranda and her legal team are pushing back against this attempt to sidestep liability.

Who Are People Filing Walmart Baby Food Lawsuits Against?

People are suing Walmart, the company that makes the Parent’s Choice brand of baby food. Several reports have shown that Walmart’s Parent’s Choice baby food has heavy metals in it, and these substances are known to cause damage to the human brain. Other companies that are under fire include Gerber, Hain Celestial (Earth’s Best), Nurture (HappyBABY), Campbell’s (Plum Grove), and Beech-Nut.

What Stage is the Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit In?

The Walmart baby food lawsuit is in its early stages. More than 150 individual claims have been combined into a multidistrict litigation in federal court. The defendant baby food companies have tried to dismiss the lawsuits; however, a federal judge rejected these efforts and has said the claims can continue. As more parents and advocates take action in the federal suit, the parties will continue to gather information, file pretrial motions, and discuss settlement options. 

Meanwhile, parents across the country continue to bring civil cases in state courts. Parents may be able to directly file into the MDL (group lawsuit) or have their individual cases transferred into the group lawsuit. Because there are filing deadlines that may apply, parents would benefit from talking to an attorney as soon as they start to think they might have a claim. 

The Heavy Metals in Walmart Baby Food

The heavy metals that have been identified in Walmart’s baby food include lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. Initially, Walmart refused to provide any response to requests by Congress during a February 2021 investigation. Walmart eventually sent more information to Congress around September 2021. In this disclosure, Walmart said it did not conduct independent testing of the baby food products or ingredients. Instead, they relied on self-certifications from their suppliers about the safety of their ingredients. As such, they did not have detailed testing data on any of their ingredients or products at that time.

Prior to 2018, Walmart only allowed up to 23 ppb or inorganic arsenic in several of its rice-based baby foods. In 2018, however, Walmart abandoned this internal policy and set the maximum of 100 ppb inorganic arsenic. According to the September 2021 Congressional Report, Walmart did not have any policy in place for mercury or cadmium.

Complications from Heavy Metals in Walmart Baby Food 

The heavy metals in Walmart’s baby foods can have devastating consequences on a baby’s neurodevelopment. The four heavy metals that have been found in Walmart’s store brand of baby food include lead, inorganic arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. 

Lead

The CDC warns that there is no safe level of lead in a child’s blood. Lead can cause developmental delays, difficulty regulating one’s behaviors and emotions, permanent loss of IQ, and other challenges. According to the Environmental Working Group, lead can be found in fruit juices, sweet potatoes, carrots, and teething biscuits. 

Inorganic Arsenic

Inorganic arsenic can be found in rice, especially brown rice, as well as brown rice syrup sweeteners (an additive) and fruit juices like apple juice. Inorganic arsenic can cause cancer and is known to interrupt human brain development. Alarmingly, a 2022 study showed that the “vast majority” of the pediatric practitioners surveyed were not aware that rice had inorganic arsenic in it, nor were they aware of the FDA’s updated regulations on heavy metals. 

Mercury

Mercury is a neurotoxin and can cause incredible damage to someone’s brain, especially to unborn babies and infants. Mercury is highly toxic, and there is no known safe level of mercury exposure. Studies have shown that mercury crosses the blood-brain barrier and that being exposed to mercury in early life and before birth is associated with autism, learning disabilities, and ADHD. 

Cadmium 

Like mercury, cadmium is known to pass through the blood-brain barrier, and it is a neurotoxin. Researchers have determined that cadmium can increase someone’s chance of having neurological issues like ADHD and learning disabilities. Children with autism who had high levels of cadmium in their blood tended to have more severe symptoms of autism.

Walmart Baby Food Products with Heavy Metals in Them

Many of Walmart’s Parents’ Choice baby food products may have heavy metals in them. Some of the foods that have been called out as being contaminated include the following:

• Parent’s Choice Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks
• Parent’s Choice Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snacks Stage 3
• Parent’s Choice Carrot Stage 2 
• Parent’s Choice Rice Baby Cereal

Because Walmart has not consistently conducted testing on its products in the past, consumers may have a difficult time determining which baby foods may be contaminated. Parents are encouraged to do independent research or use their own judgment to determine what they are comfortable with.

Studies Linking Heavy Metals and Neurological Harm Like Autism

For decades, the scientific community has known that heavy metals are toxic to the human neurological system and can interfere with healthy brain development. Likewise, a growing body of science has also shown associations between heavy metals and autism. For example, a 2023 study showed that children with autism had significantly higher levels of heavy metals in their baby teeth, skin, hair, and nails than their peers without autism. Another 2017 study, Fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism, showed that children with autism had higher levels of lead and lower levels of essential elements in their baby teeth. Parents who are filing lawsuits believe that baby food companies were aware that their products posed risks to infants, but did nothing to protect them against neurological harm.

Important Study: Association of autism with toxic metals: A systematic review of case-control studies

Association of autism with toxic metals: A systematic review of case-control studies looked at the connection between autism and heavy metals in a child’s blood, urine, and hair. According to the results, higher amounts of heavy metals, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, are associated with a child having an autism diagnosis. The researchers stressed the importance of helping children with autism by reducing the amount of heavy metals in their bodies. 

Overview: Association of autism with toxic metals: A systematic review of case-control studies
Description of Study:	Researchers wanted to learn about the association between heavy and toxic metal exposure and a child developing autism.
Published In:	Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
Study Authors	Cecilia N. AmadiChinna N. OrishChiara FrazzoliOrish E. Orisakwe
Findings	The researchers discovered that children with autism had a higher amount of lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and aluminum in their urine, blood, or nails than those without autism.

The Government’s Response to Heavy Metals in Walmart’s Baby Food

When the Congressional Report made public the heavy metal content in baby foods, state and federal government agencies started to take steps to protect babies and children. For example, the FDA launched the Closer to Zero Campaign, which introduced an action plan to reduce the heavy metals in infant foods by 2024. Since that time, the FDA has issued guidance on specific heavy metals, including lead and inorganic arsenic. California also passed a law requiring some baby food companies to put new labels on their products being sold in California. These new labels should include a QR code that customers can scan, directing them to a website displaying the heavy metal testing data for that product. Under the new law, companies will also have to test a representative sample of their product and put the results on their website.

What Damages Can People Sue Walmart For?

Someone whose child was harmed by the heavy metals in Walmart’s baby food products may qualify for compensation related to their child’s injury. For example, the family may be able to request reimbursement of the cost of the contaminated food, the child’s medical treatment, and the diagnosis. Additionally, the family may be able to recover money for the ongoing expenses to manage the child’s autism in their daily lives (such as tutoring, in-home care, or occupational therapy). Parents and claimants may also be eligible for a settlement for their legal fees as well as their pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life.

Who Qualifies to File a Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit?

In order to file a baby food lawsuit, each person has to meet certain eligibility requirements. Our legal partners are focusing on the specific injuries listed below:

• The baby must have been born on or after January 1, 2007
• The baby must have been given a brand of baby food that is known to be contaminated
• The baby must have been given the baby food for at least six months
• The baby must have been diagnosed with autism before they turned 14

Some of the brands people are suing include Parent’s Choice (Walmart’s store brand), Earth’s Best (Hain Celestial), Gerber, Plum Organics, and HappyBABY (Nurture).

What Proof Do You Need to File a Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit?

To have a chance of winning your case against Walmart, you need to have enough proof to show that the heavy metals in the foods harmed your baby. Some of the evidence that might be useful include receipts from when you purchased the baby food with heavy metals in it and medical records of your child’s diagnosis. 

You may also want to connect with witnesses who can testify about the impact of your child’s autism on your and your family’s quality of life. Additionally, you can get medical experts who can give their professional opinion about how the toxic metals in Parent’s Choice foods can impact a child’s brain development.

Five Steps to File a Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit

Suing Walmart because the heavy metals in its baby food harmed your child involves following a specific process. These are the five steps for filing a Walmart baby food lawsuit:

1. Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer
2. Discover evidence and put it in a complaint
3. File the complaint with the appropriate court
4. Request evidence (discovery) from the other side
5. Negotiate a settlement or proceed to trial

Talking to an attorney about your situation and legal rights is the first step in suing Walmart if your child developed autism because of the heavy metals in Parent’s Choice baby food. Then, you and your attorney would work together to find and request evidence you can use to prove you qualify for a settlement. 

Your lawyer would put this information together, along with medical research and references to laws, in a legal complaint. They would file this document with the appropriate court before the statute of limitations expires. Your legal team would also try to reach an out-of-court settlement deal with Walmart and, if this is unsuccessful, they would prepare to go to trial.

What to Expect When Filing a Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit

Cost is usually top of mind for many people who are considering filing a lawsuit against Walmart because of its contaminated baby food. However, some product liability lawyers handle these types of cases on a contingency basis. 

Under this type of arrangement, the client does not pay any upfront legal fees. The attorney would receive an agreed-upon percentage of the client’s settlement package if the attorney wins the client’s. In this context, parents can access legal services without having to worry about the financial strain it might place on them.

What is the Deadline for Filing a Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit?

People filing a baby food contamination lawsuit against Walmart need to do so within a certain amount of time. This timeline is called the statute of limitations, and it is determined by the law that applies to the person’s claim. 

Some of these deadlines fall a couple of years after the injury is discovered or occurs; however, many states have exceptions that give people more time to file if the victim is a child. A personal injury lawyer who handles baby food contamination cases can give you and your family personalized advice on when your filing deadline is up and how you can meet it.

Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit Settlements and Awards

The Walmart baby food lawsuit is in its early stages, so settlements have not been common. The dollar amount for individual settlements made in the future will be determined on a case-by-case basis. However, the terms and dollar amounts of most settlements are confidential.

Factors Affecting the Value of a Walmart Baby Food Lawsuit

Some of the factors that can influence someone’s final settlement amount include how their child’s autism impacts their quality of life, the severity of the child’s autism (ASD), and the strength of their legal arguments against Walmart. Additionally, whether the person filed their claim before the statute of limitations expires can impact their ability to pursue compensation.

Learn More About Walmart Baby Food Lawsuits From Our Legal Team

Walmart has an obligation to be honest with parents about what is in the Parent’s Choice baby food it sells. Reports show that, for many years, Walmart has sold its Parent’s Choice brand of baby food without verifying the heavy metal content of the ingredients or finished product. Heavy metals are known neurotoxins, and research is beginning to show that exposure to heavy metals may increase a child’s likelihood of developing autism. 

Our legal partners are taking on big corporations like Walmart and holding them accountable for the immense harm they have caused our nations’ children and vulnerable populations. If you believe the heavy metals in your child’s baby food caused them to develop autism, you may have a legal claim. Contact our legal partners today to find out if you qualify for compensation.

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