HB 507 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act providing for the testing and labeling of baby food and for prohibited levels of toxic heavy metals in baby food; and imposing duties on the Department of Agriculture.

HB 507, the Baby Food Protection Act, requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to test all baby food batches for toxic heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. It sets strict limits: baby food cannot exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic, 5 ppb for lead or cadmium, or 2 ppb for mercury. All tested baby food must display labels showing the exact metal levels found in the batch. The bill also directs the Department to adopt lower federal limits if set by the FDA and expires if federal law matches its requirements.
Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2026
House Passage
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action Jun 23, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN0489 Printer's No. PN3672 · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was updated to reflect its progression from an initial introduction to a later version reported from committee. The most significant substantive change is the addition of 'AGRICULTURE' to the department names, indicating a transfer of authority from the Department of Health to the Department of Health and Agriculture. Additionally, the definition of 'toxic heavy metal' was broadened to include any metal that negatively affects health, and the testing and labeling requirements now specifically require the detection of 'TOTAL' arsenic rather than just 'inorganic' arsenic.
Scope change
The bill's scope of enforcement changed by transferring responsibility from the Department of Health to the Department of Health and Agriculture.
ENFORCEMENT

Added 'AGRICULTURE' to the names of the Department and Secretary, shifting oversight from the Department of Health to the Department of Health and Agriculture.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'toxic heavy metal' to include any individual metal or compound that negatively affects health, rather than limiting it to specific metals.

REQUIREMENT

Changed testing and labeling requirements to specify 'TOTAL' arsenic instead of 'inorganic' arsenic, altering the specific chemical component monitored in baby food.

Floor votes · House Jun 23, 2026

How they voted

260
Passed
Total votes 26
Jun 23, 2026
D Democratic14
14 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican12
12 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Amendments
1
Jun 23, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (26-0)
house
Jun 23, 2026
Committee
Re-committed to Rules
lower
Jun 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities
lower
1 primary · 16 co-sponsors

Sponsors