SACRAMENTO – Today the California Legislature took a major step toward protecting maternal and fetal health with passage of Senate Bill 646.
The first-in-the-nation bill would, if signed, require prenatal multivitamin manufacturers to test for and publicly disclose levels of potentially harmful heavy metals in their products.
Sen. Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) introduced SB 646, which the Environmental Working Group is co-sponsoring. The legislation next heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, and he has until Oct. 12 to take action on it.
The bill comes amid growing alarm over the presence of the heavy metals arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in supplements intended for pregnant women.
A recent peer-reviewed study in Environmental Research found that the vast majority of 150 prenatal multivitamin products tested contained lead and cadmium. One multivitamin contained 900 parts per billion of lead.
“Any exposure to lead during pregnancy is dangerous – there is no safe level.” said Susan Little, EWG’s California legislative director.
“Even trace amounts can interfere with a baby’s brain development, raising the risk of lifelong health and learning problems,” she added. “It’s unacceptable that pregnant people are unknowingly exposed to toxic metals in the very supplements they take to protect their health.”
Setting a state precedent
If enacted, SB 646 would make California the first state to require routine tests and public disclosure of heavy metals in prenatal multivitamins, setting a precedent for stronger maternal health protections nationwide. Beginning in 2027, the measure would require manufacturers to regularly test a representative sample of their products and post results online.
Disclosures must include the name and level of each heavy metal detected. The bill would also require vitamin labels to direct consumers to a website where the test results will be posted.
“It’s outrageous that prenatal multivitamins – which are meant to support healthy pregnancies – may contain toxic heavy metals,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, EWG’s senior vice president for California.
“Consumers have a right to know exactly what they’re putting in their bodies. SB 646 brings long-overdue transparency to the supplement industry and puts California once again at the forefront of protecting maternal and infant health,” she said.
‘Gold standard’ for public health
The bill builds on the success of California’s Assembly Bill 899, which requires testing and disclosure of heavy metals in baby food. It was signed into law in 2023.
“California has a proud legacy of setting the gold standard for public health,” said Del Chiaro. “With SB 646, we’re extending that leadership to prenatal care, prioritizing the health of moms and babies over industry secrets.”
The recent study by researchers at the University of Miami, Clean Label Project and Ellipse Analytics adds to a growing body of evidence about heavy metals in prenatal supplements. In addition to lead, the researchers detected other heavy metals, such as arsenic and cadmium, at levels of concern.
The findings echo a 2023 Government Accountability Office report, which found lead in half of the prenatal multivitamins sampled and cadmium in several others.
The levels did not top the FDA’s daily exposure limit of 8.8 micrograms for people of childbearing age. But research shows that even low levels of exposure can pose serious risks to fetal development.
The type of supplement makes a difference. Gummy and soft gel vitamins contained lead at levels below the limit of quantification, the new study found. But most tablets and capsules contained measurable amounts of toxic metals.
Prenatal supplements must adhere to the FDA’s broader dietary supplement regulations.
“Right now, there’s no federal requirement even to test prenatal multivitamins for lead, cadmium, mercury or arsenic, let alone inform the public,” said Little. “That’s unacceptable. SB 646 would give families peace of mind and finally hold supplement makers accountable.”
SB 646 would set clear, enforceable standards and require greater industry transparency. It would give families greater confidence about protecting a developing fetus and help them make informed decisions.
Doctors would also be able to use the disclosures to inform their patients of the supplements with the least heavy metals.
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
