ANNAPOLIS, Md. (SOA) — For years, toxic metals have been lurking in the food we feed to babies and toddlers. Lead and arsenic are known to harm children’s brains, but despite alarming levels detected in baby food, the industry has remained unregulated. But that's about to change in Maryland, where the governor has signed into law a piece of legislation inspired by the Spotlight On America team's reporting.

A new law, signed by Governor Wes Moore, will require baby food makers to test their products for heavy metals like lead and arsenic, which are known to harm children's brains.

Eventually, they will have to inform the consumer about what their products contain.

The law's architect, Jason Nuñez, is the Chief of Staff for Delegate Deni Taveras.

"I was watching the news, I saw your story and right away, I knew that we needed to act," Nuñez said.

The Spotlight on America team has been investigating toxic metals in baby food for years.

Despite knowledge of contamination dating back to 2017, the FDA and Congress have taken no action to force baby food makers to test their products or to limit the neurotoxic metals within them.

Nuñez said he wants to see action on the federal level.

"They have to step, they have to step it up. They have to step it up. Children are being hurt. They eat this food every single day," he said.

The law's namesake is a little boy we first introduced you to earlier this year: Rudy Callahan.

He's one of hundreds of kids nationwide who suffered lead poisoning after eating pouches of cinnamon applesauce that contained lead that was 2,000 times above proposed safety limits.

Rudy's mom, Sarah, sat down with us when the law was proposed.

"I'm really happy that we can advocate on Rudy's behalf, and that his situation and his experience can be turned into a law," said Sarah.

Nuñez told us that meeting with the Callahans was emotional, and lit a fire that inspired him to pursue action quickly to protect kids.

"We work quick," said Nuñez. "Especially when one of your own gets hurt."

Nuñez said both New York and Pennsylvania are preparing to introduce legislation that mirrors Rudy's Law. California was the first state in the nation to pass a baby food safety bill. It went into effect in January of this year.

The House and Senate have introduced legislation that would give the FDA additional authority to reign in toxic metals in baby food, and the Spotlight on America team will be watching that closely.

For now, check out our half hour investigative special on this issue below, or click here.

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