Nitrates in Baby Food- Myth and Fact

Nitrates - What are they?

Nitrates naturally exist in water and soil, therefore most vegetables naturally contain nitrates (root vegetables and leafy green ones especially). Nitrates are also laboratory formulated and used in fertilizers. Nitrates are ingested either from vegetables or drinking water Although growing conditions affect actual levels, spinach, kale (Kai Lan), and cabbage are typically the most spoken of.

Nitrates can become dangerous if they body converts them to nitrites (which can cause a particular type of anemia - defiency in red blood cells in babies.)

Physio Makeup of our babies' body

However, it is worth look at the physio makeup of the human body before we decide. By the sixth month of life, babies have a sufficient amount of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs to destroy bacteria that convert nitrates to nitrites. And due to the fact that solids are usually held off till the 5/ 6 months, babies are protected from harm by the time vegetables are introduced into their diet. Commercially prepared vs. made from scratch is completely irrelevant. Some nitrates are naturally occurring, jarred baby food containing any of these vegetables will also have nitrates (this includes organic brands.) So, vegetables that naturally contain nitrates can safely be fed to babies six months or older.

The Amercian authorities cites this --- "Because the intake of naturally occurring nitrates from foods such as green beans, carrots, squash, spinach, and beets can be as high as or higher than that from fresh hydroponics, these foods should be avoided before 3 months of age --- Preventive strategy would be not to introduce home preparations of these vegetables to infants before 3 months of age, although there is no nutritional indication to add complementary foods to the diet of the healthy term infant before 4 to 6 months of age. Infants fed commercially prepared infant foods after 3 months of age generally are not at risk of nitrate poisoning, although the containers should be refrigerated after first use and discarded within 24 hours of opening"

Cyanosis

The reason why nitrates have became a concern for many parents is due to the unusual reporting of the condition known as - "Cyanosis" with the most obvious symptom which is that of a bluish color of the skin, particularly around the eyes and mouth. A baby with these symptoms should be taken to an emergency medical facility immediately. The doctor will take a blood sample to be sure the baby is suffering from nitrate poisoning. The blood sample of an affected baby is a chocolate brown instead of a healthy red. Nitrate poisoning can be treated, and in most cases the baby makes a full recovery.

In Summary:

1. Nitrates occur naturally in vegetables and water (even drinking water) and therefore, it is impossible to remove all traces of nitrates totally unless we remove even the nutritional vitamins and minerals

2. By 3 months, babies can produce enough hydrochloric acid to destroy the nitrates they ingest

3. Therefore by 6 months, it is considered safe to introduce plain drinking water, common root vegetables and green leafy vegetables to babies.

4. However, it is important to monitor the baby for any signs of 'Cyanosis' after the introduction of root and green leafy vegetables (rule of 3 days)