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
26–0
Passed
Total votes 26
Jun 23, 2026
D
Democratic14
100% Yea
R
Republican12
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
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Liz Hanbidge
DDemocratic
Co
Ben Sanchez
DDemocratic
Co
Bob Freeman
DDemocratic
Co
Carol Hill-Evans
DDemocratic
Co
Chris Pielli
DDemocratic
Co
Greg Scott
DDemocratic
Co
Jenn O'Mara
DDemocratic
Co
Joe Ciresi
DDemocratic
Co
Joe Webster
DDemocratic
Co
Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz
DDemocratic
Co
JG
José Giral
DDemocratic
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