Lovebird Heavy Metals Testing: Third-Party Results, Cassava Safety & Transparency
Lovebird Heavy Metals Testing & Transparency: Our Commitment to Safe, Clean Cereal
At Lovebird, we prioritize ingredient safety and transparency. We third-party test our organic, grain-free cereals for heavy metals (including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury), glyphosate, gluten, and other potential contaminants. Our goal is to deliver the cleanest possible cereal using real, whole-food ingredients.
Heavy metals like lead can occur naturally in soil and be absorbed by root vegetables such as cassava (a key ingredient in our grain-free options). This is common across many plant-based foods, including cassava products tested in broader reports (e.g., Consumer Reports 2025 investigation on cassava items). We actively manage sourcing and testing to keep levels as low as possible.
Our Third-Party Heavy Metals Testing Results
We regularly test batches through accredited independent labs using sensitive methods (low detection limits). Key findings for our Unsweetened Cassava Cereal and all our our grain-free cereals and protein granola.
- Lead: Consistently tests at or below 5 ppb (parts per billion) in recent independent analyses — well below many proposed, extreme action levels (e.g., 5–10 ppb in baby food guidelines) and lower than similar cassava-based products per 2025 industry reports.
- Cadmium, Arsenic, Mercury: Non-detectable or trace levels far below safety thresholds.
- Testing is ongoing, with results from multiple batches shared upon request.
Lovebird's Leading Low Levels vs. Rest of Market Results Summary
- Lead ≤5 ppb, below California Prop 65 limit of 50ppb and EU commission for baby food limit of 10ppb.
- Cadmium <5 ppb, below California Prop 65 limit of 50ppb aand EU commission for baby food limit of 10ppb.
- Arsenic | Non-detectable
- Mercury | Non-detectable
click here for full testing, 3rd party heavy metal testing reports
In May/June 2024, Lead Safe Mama (an independent advocate) tested our Grain-Free Cassava Unsweetened Cereal and reported 5 ppb lead — a detectable but low level consistent with our own findings and third-party results.
This result aligns with our commitment to transparency: We never claimed zero heavy metals are possible in soil-grown ingredients like cassava, but we do test rigorously and keep levels at an industry leading low level. 5 ppb is significantly lower than many cassava products (e.g., some flours/chips exceeded much higher in 2025 Consumer Reports tests) and poses negligible risk in a balanced diet, per expert guidelines (no safe level of lead exists, but trace exposure from food is common and managed).
Why Cassava? Our Sourcing & Safety Standards
Cassava provides a nutritious, gluten-free base. We select organic suppliers with soil testing and processing that reduces natural uptake. Combined with our third-party verification, this keeps our cereal among the cleanest options available.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Does Lovebird cereal contain heavy metals? Trace, naturally occurring levels (e.g., ≤5 ppb lead) are possible in cassava-based foods, but our testing shows they remain very low, safe, and California Prop 65 compliant.
- How does Lovebird compare to other cereals? Our levels are lower than many similar grain-free or cassava products per independent reports.
- What about Lead Safe Mama's test? The 5 ppb lead finding matches our data — low and not a concern relative to industry norms.
- Are your products Prop 65 compliant? Yes — we meet or exceed California requirements.
- How often do you test? Every batch or regularly via third-party labs.
Questions about our testing? Contact us or request recent reports. Shop Lovebird cereal knowing we're committed to the highest standards for heavy metals safety and clean ingredients.Lovebird is committed to 3rd party testing and holding our cereal to the highest standard for heavy metals, glyphosate, gluten, and other toxins. Our cassava is compliant with California's strict Prop 65 standards.
The honest truth is that heavy metals are prevalent in almost every food you eat due to naturally occurring "organic" amounts and some "inorganic" amounts due to the quality of soil and our industrial farming practices. For example, a whole sweet potato from the grocery store can contain ~55 PPB of lead, which is higher than the California Prop 65 limit.
Some crops are more prone to absorbing specific metals than other plants. For example, rice naturally absorbs more arsenic, lettuce and onions accumulate lead more readily, and spinach and carrots accumulate cadmium more easily. Similar to lettuce, carrots, and onions; root vegetables are suspectable to lead given how they are grown.
It does not mean all fruits, vegetables, and grains are harmful, and we should avoid eating them—quite the opposite, as fruits and vegetables are essential to a healthy diet. Remember, the presence of a hazard does not necessarily mean there is a risk. Heavy metals can be present but at such a low level that it doesn’t cause harm.
Avoiding all heavy metals is impossible but is important to be:
1) aware of your consumption
2) make choices to minimize your toxic load
3) hydrate with filtered water and sweat daily to help aid your body's natural detox
As a result, California's Prop 65 created a limit per serving to ensure safe levels of heavy metals.
The Cassava I use is 3rd party tested for heavy metals, California Prop 65 compliant. I have tested over 10 different suppliers from around the world and found 1 that passes the strictest US and European standards.
The reason is the quality of the soil. My cassava comes from small family farms with pure soil in South America. No industrial agriculture practices and clean soil produces more nutrient dense whole food nutrition.
As a founder and as a parent, I try my best to find and source the cleanest ingredients possible. It's important you have the information necessary to make informed decisions for you and your family.
Hopefully this is helpful. As a parent on low tox journey, I know how anxiety-filled it can be. It is impossible to avoid 100% of toxins but it’s helpful to be informed to help manage your overall toxic load. There are certain products I avoid because of high test results and there are some important steps to help reducing your toxic load from fresh produce too.
1) Buy organic: use the EWG clean 15 and dirty dozen to limit exposure and save some money
2) Wash your produce: toss with 1 teaspoon of baking soda plus some salt per 2 cups of cold water then soak for 10 minutes followed by a rinse
3) Don't stress: you can't avoid all toxins so do your best while hydrating with water, getting sunlight and sweating everyday to support your body's natural detox
