Chemicals in our Food
Just Say No to Sigg and BPA
10/09/09
Bisphenol A is a building block of serval plastics and plastic additives. Suspected of being hazardous to humans since the 1930's, concerns about the use of BPA in consumer products have been regularly reported in the news media in the last few years. Today, I learned that the aluminum water bottle that I have been using for the last 2 years was not BPA free. The swiss manufacturer Sigg found trace amounts of BPA in the liners of its bottles last year. They changed the lining to a BPA free lining in August of 2008, but did not happen to mention it to their consumers. The bottles manufactured prior to that change were being shipped to retailers as recently as this August. Yes, folks, that is a full year after they made the chamge. Can you say sneaky and underhanded? I sure can.
Patagonia, a company who has pioneered business responsibility to the environment and individual health, announced on September 4th that it was terminating its co-branding relationship with Sigg as well as removing all Sigg products from its stores. Patagonia does not support the use of BPA in any of its products. Personally, I think they are just as mad as I am. Sigg is messing with their brand, and that is serious stuff!
Zreccommends.com has a great post on Sigg's less than forthcoming behavior. Personally, I will be putting my Sigg bottle in the recycle bin. I do not wish to support a company that knowingly withheld information that was important to its consumer base. In other words, they have lost my trust and my money. Kleen Kanteen here I come......
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
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The Dirty Dozen
09/20/09
No, I am not referring to the WWII movie of the same name starring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson and Jim Brown. I am talking about the twelve vegetables or fruit that should always be bought organic. These twelve harbor the highest amounts of pesticide residue when grown conventionally. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. They put out a guide each year highlighting the worst choices to buy of conventionally grown produce. They even have an iphone app for keeping this list handy! So here it goes.......
Peaches
Apples
Sweet bell peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes (imported)
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes
The guide is a handy PDF that you can print out and carry in your wallet or post on your fridge for easy reference.
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
Alloxan in White Flour
07/11/09
So I already know that white flour is an empty food choice. I understand that choosing food made with white flour creates a missed opportunity for putting useful nutrition in my system. However, I always figured that a little white flour along the way would not be seriously detrimental to my health. Silly me, I should understand by now that big business only cares about profit. Hence, this brings me to a substance called alloxan.
Alloxan is the chemical which “bleaches” the flour. The FDA allows Alloxan to be used in the processing of foods.
Alloxan is also a substance that destroys the beta cells of your pancreas. Beta cells produce insulin. When alloxan was administered to rodents it caused an insulin-dependent diabetes. Are you starting to see the problem?
What really bothers me about this information, is that the business industry made a decision to use this substance instead of other less harmful bleaching agents without care or concern to the long term effects on the general public. Even worse, is that the FDA approved its use. I am angered by the fact that the public was not educated in order to make an informed choice. Some people will not care, of course, people continue to smoke even though they know it has a direct link to cancer. They have made a conscious choice. The people innocently eating their rye bread deli sandwiches deserve the same choice. What do you choose?
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
Alloxan is the chemical which “bleaches” the flour. The FDA allows Alloxan to be used in the processing of foods.
Alloxan is also a substance that destroys the beta cells of your pancreas. Beta cells produce insulin. When alloxan was administered to rodents it caused an insulin-dependent diabetes. Are you starting to see the problem?
What really bothers me about this information, is that the business industry made a decision to use this substance instead of other less harmful bleaching agents without care or concern to the long term effects on the general public. Even worse, is that the FDA approved its use. I am angered by the fact that the public was not educated in order to make an informed choice. Some people will not care, of course, people continue to smoke even though they know it has a direct link to cancer. They have made a conscious choice. The people innocently eating their rye bread deli sandwiches deserve the same choice. What do you choose?
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
What is Benzene and Why is it in Soda?
06/11/09
I have been on a campaign to get my husband off soda for a long time. I have made huge strides as it is no longer the first thing he drinks in the morning. So whenever I read anything that may make him think twice, I share it. This information may be the most potent ammunition yet. Here are a few links to articles that shed some light on the subject.
http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2008/04/benzene_in_soda_update.php
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/19/health/main1638170.shtml
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12174292/
Benzene is a known carcinogen, and we are exposed to it daily in our environment. It is usually absorbed through contact with gasoline and cigarette smoke. However, it can be found in the water supply and in the air we breathe. Benzene is a chemical widely used in the United States in the production of plastics, resins, and nylon as well as rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides. Long term exposure may affect bone marrow and blood production. Short term exposure may cause drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness, or death.
The FDA is aware that benzene can be found in soft drinks. However, the government currently has no health standard for the benzene found in drinks other than drinking water. Benzene can form in sodas when ascorbic acid and either sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate are present. The warmer and older the soda the more potential for benzene to form. In tap water the levels should be no more than 5 parts per billion. The Environmental Working Group, a watchdog organization, found levels of benzene in soft drinks at levels between 5 and 138 parts per billion. The amount depends on how much heat and light to which the drinks are exposed. Currently, soda does not carry a manufacture date to let consumers know how long it has been on the shelves.
There are times I have a desire for a carbonated drink. When I do, I mix sparkling water with fruit juice. (My favorite is grapefruit soda.) I. find this very satisfying, especially knowing that it is safe and provides some nutritional value. Give it a try next time instead of reaching for a soda.
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2008/04/benzene_in_soda_update.php
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/19/health/main1638170.shtml
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12174292/
Benzene is a known carcinogen, and we are exposed to it daily in our environment. It is usually absorbed through contact with gasoline and cigarette smoke. However, it can be found in the water supply and in the air we breathe. Benzene is a chemical widely used in the United States in the production of plastics, resins, and nylon as well as rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides. Long term exposure may affect bone marrow and blood production. Short term exposure may cause drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness, or death.
The FDA is aware that benzene can be found in soft drinks. However, the government currently has no health standard for the benzene found in drinks other than drinking water. Benzene can form in sodas when ascorbic acid and either sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate are present. The warmer and older the soda the more potential for benzene to form. In tap water the levels should be no more than 5 parts per billion. The Environmental Working Group, a watchdog organization, found levels of benzene in soft drinks at levels between 5 and 138 parts per billion. The amount depends on how much heat and light to which the drinks are exposed. Currently, soda does not carry a manufacture date to let consumers know how long it has been on the shelves.
There are times I have a desire for a carbonated drink. When I do, I mix sparkling water with fruit juice. (My favorite is grapefruit soda.) I. find this very satisfying, especially knowing that it is safe and provides some nutritional value. Give it a try next time instead of reaching for a soda.
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.