It’s no secret that many of our favorite foods contain various chemicals that can pose serious health risks.
This month, Consumer Reports (a watchdog group currently calling on the Department of Agriculture to remove lunch menu items from the National School Lunch Program) found that pesticide contamination is widespread in some produce, both conventional and organic. I discovered that there is. The group said pesticides “posed a significant risk” in 20% of the foods it examined, including peppers, blueberries, green beans, potatoes and strawberries. In particular, the green beans contained residual pesticides that have been banned for use on vegetables for more than 10 years. And imported agricultural products, especially those from Mexico, are likely to contain especially high levels of pesticide residues.
In addition to pesticides, there are also growing concerns about: PFAS, an abbreviation for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Dubbed the “forever chemicals,” his PFAS are a group of synthetic compounds that have been used in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s because of their resistance to grease, oil, water, and heat. These chemicals are useful in food packaging and cooking utensils, but harmful to human health and our environment. PFAS take at least a century to break down in the human body and even longer in the environment. Long-term exposure and ingestion of PFAS also high risk of cancerautoimmune diseases, thyroid problems, and other health problems.
Unfortunately, PFAS are prevalent in our food, especially in some agricultural products, processed foods, seafood, and even drinking water. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 97% of the population currently has PFAS in their bodies. To make matters worse, her exposure to PFAS in humans It becomes increasingly difficult to evaluate New substances have been created in recent years. Avoiding PFAS is nearly impossible and often the expert said. Further research on new and existing chemicals is also ongoing.
2020, CR tested Forty-seven types of bottled water (including 35 still and 12 carbonated drinks) contain four heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury) and 30 PFAS chemicals. Although most non-carbonated beverages contained detectable levels of PFAS, only two brands, Tourmaline Spring and Deer Park, exceeded the health guideline of parts per trillion set by the U.S. government. I was there. Environmental Working Group (EWG). Both brands subsequently disputed the findings. Tourmaline Springs has announced that PFAS levels in its bottled water are below levels set by the International Bottled Water Association, while Deer Park owner Nestlé has confirmed that its water brands’ recent It claimed that tests revealed “undetectable levels.” PFAS.
Many of the carbonated beverages tested by CR contained measurable amounts of PFAS. Perrier Natural Sparkling Mineral Water, La Croix Natural Sparkling Water, Canada Dry Lemon Lime Sparkling Seltzer Water, Poland Spring Zesty Lime Sparkling Water, Bubbly Blackberry Sparkling Water, Polar Natural Seltzer Water, and Topo Chico Natural Mineral Water all have a PFAS level of 1 or higher. 1/1 trillion which was high.
Beyond bottled water, PFAS have also affected sports drinks. Prime Hydration is the controversial energy drink brand founded by internet personalities Logan Paul and KSI. Class action lawsuits in 2023 It claims that the brand’s drinks contain PFAS. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California, alleges that the amount of PFAS detected in Prime Hydration during independent testing was “three times the[EPA’s]recommended lifetime health advisory for drinking water.” There is. It also accused the brand of falsely promoting its drinks as healthy.
The motion to dismiss the hearing was heard on April 18th. In it, Prime Hydration argued that the plaintiffs did not allege “cognizable injury” with “facts indicating a concrete (and) imminent threat of future harm.”
Paul responded to the lawsuit in 3 minutes. TikTok video posted on Wednesday.
“First of all, anyone can sue at any time if the lawsuit is not true,” he said. “And in this case, it’s not that … one person conducted a random study and provided no evidence to support their claims.”
“This is not a Rinky Dink operation. We use top bottle manufacturers in the United States. All of your favorite beverage brands use these companies. If your product comes in plastic, They make bottles for them.”
Paul claimed that Prime “follows Title 21 for regulatory codes for (polyethylene terephthalate) and all other types of bottles.”according to United States CodeTitle 21 “makes it unlawful to manufacture adulterated or misbranded food or drugs in the Territory of Columbia or the District of Columbia and provides:” [a] Violations will be subject to penalties. ” Many state-run beverage companies use polyethylene terephthalate (PET) because it is a recyclable, “transparent, durable and versatile” plastic. American Beverage Association.
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Measures to limit PFAS contamination have been gradually issued in recent years. On April 10, the Biden-Harris administration announced the first-ever nationally enforceable policy. drinking water standards It would protect communities from exposure to PFAS. That said, the new regulations do not apply to all public drinking water systems in the United States and will likely take several years to fully take effect.
In the meantime, consumers can limit their intake of PFAS by testing their tap water using a home test kit available below. certified lab or through local environmental authorities. EWG tap water database. It is important to note that boiling or disinfecting water does not completely remove the “chemicals”. But when I use certain faucet filter A countertop filter or water pitcher filter will certainly work as well.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Research-funded PFAS-REACH (Research, Education, and Action for Community Health) project has provided guidelines on how to reduce exposure to PFAS in food and household products. Official website. Some notable tips include looking for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or other “fluorine” ingredients on product labels, avoiding nonstick cookware, and boycotting takeout containers .
