In our GMO primer we discussed what genetically modified organisms are and identified a few of the pros and cons to genetic engineering. Now let’s focus on one of the cons – the potential health risks of GMOs. Allergies According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the prevalence of children with food allergies [...]
The FDA is meeting with a Food Advisory Committee today and tomorrow to discuss new evidence possibly linking artificial food coloring and behavioral problems in children. Concerned experts hope that the FDA will require manufacturers of foods that contain artificial food coloring to add a warning label to their products. Europe already requires a label [...]
Last week, in the days leading up to Earth Hour, I realized that we didn’t have any environmentally friendly candles. We had one small votive candle to use under the gravy and fondue bowls. And I had decorative candles that I had no intention of burning. But we didn’t have a single beeswax, vegetable oil [...]
There may be more reasons to avoid artificial Christmas trees than you think. The Real vs. Artificial Debate Many people prefer a real tree over a fake one because they love the fresh pine scent. For others it’s a tradition to kick off the holiday season by looking for the perfect tree at the Christmas [...]
Our friends at the Environmental Working Group have created a healthy home checklist designed to give your house or apartment a once-over environmental health inspection. This quick and simple, yet comprehensive, two page checklist will help you check your house for common toxic chemicals and choose safer alternatives. Identify potential dangers in the kitchen, bathroom, [...]
Ask Google “Is organic better?” and you’ll find hundreds of people weighing in on the organic vs. conventional debate. In day to day life you’ll hear people asking the same question. Sometimes it’s the person at the supermarket wondering why they should buy the more expensive bunch of bananas. Sometimes the questions aren’t even really [...]
Help give the FDA the teeth it needs to regulate personal care products. Currently manufacturers of cosmetics and personal care products can legally use potentially harmful ingredients without government testing, review or approval. Please pledge your support for the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 so that we can protect ourselves from dangerous ingredients. Read more [...]
Bisphenol A (BPA) is no stranger to the news. This plastics hardener, a synthetic estrogen that can cause numerous health problems, is found in many applications including food and drink packaging, bottle tops, water supply pipes, dental composites and compact discs. Recently the National Workgroup for Safe Markets, a coalition of public health and environmental [...]
Legislation introduced today by Reps. Bobby L. Rush (D-Illinois) and Henry Waxman (D-California) would overhaul the 30+ year old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The new Toxic Chemicals Safety Act (H.R.5820) proposes to change the process by which chemicals are cleared for use and better protect Americans against the dangers of toxic chemicals. Some of [...]
Selecting the right shampoo, soap, cosmetics or sunscreen is an uphill battle these days. Knowing that the labeling might be misleading, the ingredients might be toxic and the FDA can do nothing legally about false claims and dangerous ingredients is enough to give anyone pause before they wash their hair every morning. Since greasy hair [...]
