house.” Some of these additives are likely
or known carcinogens and endocrine
disruptors, or have other potentially
adverse health eff ects.
In comparison, less than 40 synthetic
ingredients are allowed in organic pack-
aged food, including vitamins, fi bers, and
substances used to clean manufacturing
equipment. Their safety is reviewed by
independent experts every fi ve years.
Organic food cannot contain artifi cial
fl avors, colors, or preservatives.5
GENETICALLY MODIFIED
FOODS (GMOS)
Starting in 2020, some labeling of GMOs
will be required, but meanwhile, any
disclosure is voluntary. Foods modifi ed
to withstand toxic weed killers, such
as corn and soy, may contain higher
chemical residues. In other cases, there
is debate about the risk of foreign genes
acting as allergens.6
BPA
Short for bisphenol-A, BPA disrupts
hormones and can contribute to weight
gain and possibly diabetes, high blood
pressure, and heart disease. BPA is
found in the linings of cans, plastic
containers, paper receipts, and fast-food
meat products.OTHER GOOD OPTIONS
k • Non-GMO Project Verified foods
k • Grass-fed meat
k • Pasture-raised chickens and eggs
k • Meat and dairy products from
animals raised without antibiotics
or rBST, a widely used synthetic
hormoneHELPFUL APPS AND SITES
k • The Non-GMO Project Shopping
Guide: livingnongmo.org
k • The Environmental Working Group’s
Healthy Living App: ewg.org/apps
k • The Center for Food Safety:
centerforfoodsafety.org1
Strawberries2
Spinach3
Kale4
Nectarines5
Apples6
GrapesWHAT TO DO
If you aren’t following a gluten-free diet, go easy on grains and avoid foods with added
gluten, which is listed as a separate ingredient. In addition, look for foods that don’t
contain artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Eating organic food is the simplest way to avoid most pitfalls, but when this isn’t
possible, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group has identified the “Dirty Dozen”
—fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide levels. These are most important to
buy organic (ranked from most toxic to least):7
Peaches8
Cherries9
Pears10
Tomatoes11
Celery12
PotatoesA study at California Polytechnic State
University in San Luis Obispo found
that women who switched to BPA-free
food containers and cosmetics for three
weeks had signifi cantly lower levels of
the chemical in their bodies. And, they
lost some weight.7
PHTHALATES IN
FAST FOOD
Although their risk is still being debated,
phthalates are banned from toys in the
U.S., are known to disrupt hormones, and
have been linked to high blood pressure,
diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. For
years, plastic containers, skincare and
hair products, and synthetic fragrances
have been known sources of phthalates.
But these problematic chemicals are also
found in fast food.
Testing of nearly 9,000 people,
at The George Washington University
in Washington, D.C., found levels of
these chemicals were up to 40 percent
higher in people who had eaten fast food
during the previous 24 hours. Fast-food
items that contributed to high levels
of phthalates included meat and foods
made with grain, such as bread, pizza,
burritos, rice, noodles, and cakes. As if
there already weren’t enough reasons
to avoid fast food, this is another one.WHICH FOODS ARE
GENETICALLY MODIFIED?
According to the USDA, non-organic
versions of the following six foods are
typically genetically modified:- Corn
- Soybeans
- Sugar beets
- Papaya (U.S.-grown)
- “Arctic” varieties of apples
- AquAdvantage salmon
Some of these four foods may also be
genetically modified:- Alfalfa
- Canola
- Potatoes (Atlantic, ranger russet,
russet burbank, and white russet) - Squash (zucchini, yellow straight-
neck, and yellow crookneck)
Many health food stores refuse to sell
GMO foods. In addition, the nonprofit
Non-GMO Project has verified and
certified more than 50,000 foods that
don’t contain GMOs. For details, visit
livingnongmo.org.MAY 2019• 39