WHAT'S ON MY FOOD?

What's on my food...?

Ever wonder how "safe" the FDA & USDA are really keeping us?

Would you be surprized to find the USDA is aware of 16 pesticide residues in APPLE JUICE...? A quarter of them carcinogens, three of them neurotoxins, and half of them either reproductive, hormone, or developmental toxicants.

According to the USDA - the Federal authority which determines who gets to bear their venerable "certified organic" label - more than half the apple juice for US consumption contains thiabendazole, a fungicide, metal-binder, and preservative all wrapped into one. According to Wikipedia TBZ effects on test animals (dosed at high levels) include: "liver and intestine disorder, reproductive disorders and decreasing weanling weight..." Perhaps more alarming are the effects on humans which have not been intentionally dosed at high levels, but only 'normal' consumption rates. These include: "nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, ringing in the ears, vision changes, stomach pain, yellowing eyes and skin, dark urine, fever, fatigue, increased thirst and change in the amount of urine." Fortunately, Wiki reports, "no mutagenic effects have been shown."

And that's good news - particularly when one ponders the fledgling age range of apple juice consumers.

Now it would be naive to think that if chemical pesticide use were to end today that the world would instantly be a safer place. Continued ground water contamination alone would last for many years. Nor would the banning of any single pesticide likely make a significant alteration to the general state of affairs. But the re-education of our culture would make a very important change. Public awareness of the links between pesticides and childhood leukemia, autism, Parkinson's, breast cancer, and water contamination is an important first step. A change in perspective on pesticide synergy - prolonged, repeated exposure - is an important first step. An understanding that huge agri-business profits are not as important as cultural well-being, is an important first step.

If you would like to find out what pesticides are on your food, you can visit the Pesticide Action Network's user-friendly pesticide ID tool at: www.whatsonmyfood.org

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