One of the strongest selling points for eating
organic food is the fact that doing so can
significantly lower your exposure to pesticides and
other harmful chemicals used in conventional
agriculture
Both the International Federation of Gynecology and
Obstetrics and a US Endocrine Society task force
warn that pesticides pose a major threat to human
health, and should be avoided by everyone
Recent studies confirm that eating an organic diet
can significantly reduce your toxic load
By Dr. Mercola
One of the strongest selling points for
eating organic food is the fact that doing so can significantly
lower your exposure to pesticides and other harmful chemicals used
in conventional agriculture.
Since organic standards prohibit the use of synthetic pesticides
and herbicides, it stands to reason that organic foods would be less
contaminated, and studies have indeed confirmed that those who eat a
primarily organic diet have fewer toxins in their system.
Considering the fact that long-term pesticide exposure has been
linked to infertility, birth defects,1,2
endocrine disruption, neurological disorders, and
cancer, it's also a common sense conclusion that having fewer
toxic chemicals in your body can result in improved health.
In fact, a key part of a healthy diet and lifestyle in general is
the absence of toxic chemicals.
Pesticide Exposure Is Being Recognized as a Major Health Threat
Last December I interviewed André Leu about his book
The Myths of Safe Pesticides. If you're of the belief that
pesticides are safe, and therefore of no concern when selecting
foods, you may want to listen to that interview, provided again here
for your convenience.
More recently, a report3,4
by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics5
(FIGO), which represents OB-GYNs in 125 countries, warns that
chemical exposures now represent a major threat to human health and
reproduction.
Pesticides are one of several categories of toxins included in
the report. Pesticides were also included in a new scientific
statement6,7
on endocrine-disrupting chemicals by the Endocrine Society task
force.
This task force warns that the health effects of
hormone-disrupting chemicals is such that everyone needs to
take proactive steps to avoid them — especially those seeking to get
pregnant, pregnant women, and young children.
When Kids Eat Organic, Their Pesticide Levels Decline
One of the most recent studies8
into organic food and its impact on your pesticide load was
published in the October issue of Environmental Health
Perspectives. The study included 20 children living in Oakland,
California, and another 20 living in Salinas, California, the latter
of which is a major agricultural community.
For the first four days, all of the children ate a conventional
diet. The following seven days, they ate only organic food, followed
by another five days of conventional food. As reported by The
New York Times:9
"About 72 percent of their urine samples, collected
daily, contained evidence of pesticides.
Among the six most frequently detected pesticides, two
decreased by nearly 50 percent when children were on the organic
diet, and those of a common herbicide fell by 25 percent.
Three other frequently detected pesticides were not
significantly lower on the organic diet. Levels were generally
higher in the Salinas children than in the Oakland children."
Similar results were obtained in the study10
shown in the featured video at the beginning of the article,
conducted by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. When
a family switched to all organic food, both the occurrence and the
number of pesticides were reduced in all members of the household.
People Who Eat Organic Have 65 Percent Lower Levels of
Organophosphates
Organophosphates (OPs) are among the most commonly used
pesticides on American farms. In one of the largest studies11
of its kind, researchers looked at the diets of nearly 4,500 people
living in six US cities, assessing the level of exposure to
organophosphates via food.
Participants' organophosphate levels were estimated using USDA
data12
on the average levels of pesticide residue found in the fruits and
vegetables that each individual reported eating.
To verify the accuracy of their estimates, they compared their
calculated pesticide exposures to the actual levels of pesticide
metabolites (breakdown products) excreted in the urine of a subset
of 720 participants.
As expected, those who ate conventionally-grown produce had high
concentrations of OP metabolites, whereas those who ate organic
produce had significantly lower levels.
Those who "often or always" ate organic had about 65 percent
lower levels of pesticide residues compared to those who ate the
least amount of organic produce.
According to lead author Cynthia Curl:
"If you tell me what you typically eat, I can tell you
how high your pesticide exposure is likely to be. The study
suggests that by eating organically grown versions of those
foods highest in pesticide residues, we can make a measurable
difference."
Most Widely Used Herbicide Has Been Deemed Carcinogenic
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's best-selling
herbicide Roundup, is one of the most commonly used herbicides in
the world, both on conventional and genetically engineered plants.
An estimated one billion pounds a year is sprayed on our food crops,
resulting in the average American eating several hundred pounds of
glyphosate-contaminated food every year.
In March, glyphosate was reclassified as a Class 2A "probable
carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC), a division of the World Health Organization (WHO). The
California's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) followed suit,
recently issuing a notice of intent13
to label glyphosate as "known to cause cancer."
Ag Workers Sue Monsanto over Glyphosate Exposure
Since the IARC's determination, agricultural personnel have begun
suing Monsanto over past glyphosate exposure.14US
farm worker Enrique Rubio claims nine years of glyphosate
application using nothing more than a paper mask for protection
caused his bone cancer,15
and Judi Fitzgerald, an horticultural assistant, sued claiming it
played a role in her leukemia.
The lawsuits accuse Monsanto of "scientific fraud" in the
marketing and sale of Roundup, intentionally misleading regulators
about Roundup's dangers, and failing to properly warn users about
its carcinogenic potential. According to Bloomberg:16
"An Environmental Protection Agency audit of Bio-Test
Laboratories — a firm hired by Monsanto to test the toxicity of
Roundup in the 1970s — revealed 'routine falsification of data'
at the lab invalidating its studies of the Monsanto product,
according to the complaints. Fitzgerald and Rubio also claim the
owner of Craven Laboratories — another firm hired by Monsanto in
the 1990s — was convicted of fraudulent laboratory practices in
the testing of pesticides and herbicides, including Roundup."
Rubio's complaint specifically states that: "Monsanto assured
the public that Roundup was harmless. In order to prove this,
Monsanto championed falsified data and attacked legitimate studies
that revealed its dangers."
EPA Found Guilty of Violating Law When It Approved Powerful
Insecticide
Pesticides threaten not only human health, but can be
devastating to our precious pollinators as well. Honey bees and
Monarch butterflies are two species that have dwindled due to
excessive pesticide use. Neonicotinoids have been identified as
being particularly harmful to these important insects, yet little is
being done to curb their use in the US.
Two years ago, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
approved the neonicotinoid Sulfoxaflor — a move that raised great
concern among commercial beekeeping trade groups, including the
American Honey Producers Association and the American Beekeeping
Federation. After reviewing the registration data, EarthJustice
discovered the agency had not met its own guidelines when approving
the insecticide, so a lawsuit was filed against the EPA.
"Courts typically give EPA a great deal of deference in
these matters because they involve a fair amount of scientific
expertise; the courts are often recluctant to second-guess the
science. But in the case of Sulfoxaflor, [EarthJustice staff
attorney Greg] Loarie says, 'the science was so lacking and it
was so clear that EPA just didn't have this fundamental
information, the court found that the registration had to be
overturned unless and until that information is brought to
bear.'"
So for now, Sulfoxaflor is off the market, but it's really quite
astounding that the EPA would be so reckless as to approve a
pesticide without adequate safety testing when bee die-offs pose
such a grave threat to human food production. It just goes to show
to what extent corporate profits are permitted to take precedent
over long-term sustainability and human survival.
Majority of EU Nations Seek to Opt Out of Cultivating GMOs
While one of the selling points of genetically engineered (GE)
plants was that they would reduce pesticide usage, such promises
have turned out to be completely inaccurate. Since the introduction
of GE crops, pesticide usage has skyrocketed, and with it, pesticide
exposure via food, as these crops are more heavily tainted.
Bt crops are even designed to produce the Bt toxin internally,
and the plants themselves are registered as a pesticide.18
GE crops also promote environmental destruction by worsening soil
quality19
and reducing biodiversity,20
both of which are basic tenets of sustainable agriculture and food
security. Europe has, overall, been more resistant toward
genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and that resistance shows
no sign of dwindling. In fact, 19 of the 28 EU member nations have
now requested opt-outs from cultivating GE crops21
— an option that was signed into law in March.
Countries refusing to grow GMOs in parts or all of their
territories include: Austria, Belgium for the Wallonia region,
Britain for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, and
Slovenia.
"The law was introduced to end years of stalemate as
genetically modified crops divide opinion in Europe. Although
widely grown in the Americas and Asia, public opposition is
strong in Europe and environmentalists have raised concerns
about the impact on biodiversity...
Under the new law, the European Commission is responsible
for approvals, but requests to be excluded also have to be
submitted to the company making the application. In response to
the first exclusion requests in August from Latvia and Greece,
Monsanto said it was abiding by them, even though it regarded
them as unscientific."
More Good News: American Academy of Pediatrics Ends Partnership with
Monsanto
Europe opting out of GMO cultivation may not directly
benefit Americans, but it definitely slows down the global take-over
attempt by the biotechnology industry, and it offers hope that we
may still be able to turn the tide in the US as well. Monsanto has
long been given a free pass to wield its power at will in the US,
but signs of a shift can be seen here too.
For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has now
confirmed it is cutting ties with the chemical technology giant,
following a successful campaign started by concerned moms. (The
Academy has also ended its relationship with Coca-Cola — another
"win" for children and families across the US.) As reported by
EcoWatch:23
"It appears that the severing between the divisive
biotech company and the pediatricians association was
spearheaded by Mamavation founder and 'food activist' Leah
Segedie, who confronted the AAP's public affairs team after
learning about this 'unholy alliance…' 'I reached out to the AAP
behind the scenes to discuss the negative impacts a company like
Monsanto could have on their image,' Segedie told EcoWatch...
'I believe the trust of mothers is paramount to the AAP.
Partnering with a company that makes poisons for a living isn't
consistent with their mission, especially when that company is
the maker of DDT, PCBs, Agent Orange, glyphosate, and GMOs...
They simply do not have a track record consistent with trust,
especially when it comes to the most vulnerable part of our
population — children,' she continued.
'I'm sure mothers in Anniston, Alabama would especially
agree after the $700 million lawsuit settlement from poisoning
their town. For that reason, I felt a partnership with Monsanto
would be damaging to their reputation and may derail their
efforts to build trust with mothers in an age of social
transparency...'"
Please Help Protect the Organic Label!
During the Bush administration, the Cornucopia Institute
orchestrated a pressure campaign that resulted in the removal of Dr.
Barbara Robinson, a corrupt official running the USDA's organic
program at the time. We now ask you to help them do it again — this
time we need to remove the entire management team for the USDA's
National Organic Program, the actions of which threaten to destroy
the credibility of the organic label. As explained by the Cornucopia
Institute:
"In September 2013, Mr. McEvoy unilaterally announced
sweeping changes in the operation of the National Organic
Standards Board (NOSB). This 15-member, multi-stakeholder body
was established by Congress as a buffer between agribusiness
lobbyists and organic stakeholders to ensure that Big Ag did not
corrupt the organic label. Mr. McEvoy has stripped much of the
power from the NOSB. Along with the illegal stacking of the
board with agribusiness executives instead of working farmers,
this body has become a rubber stamp for corporate/industrial
organics."
For more details, please see the
Cornucopia Institute's Action Alert page, where you can also
find links to the proxy letter, or simply print it out by clicking
the button below. Mail the proxy letter to The Cornucopia Institute,
PO Box 126, Cornucopia, WI 54827. Or, fax it to: 866-861-2214.
Which Foods Are the Most Important to Buy Organic?
Everyone can be harmed by pesticides, but if you're a woman of
childbearing age or have young children, taking steps to reduce your
exposure is especially important. Ideally, all of the food you and
your family eat would be organic. That said, not everyone has access
to a wide variety of organic produce, and it can sometimes
be costlier than buying conventional.
One way to save some money while still lowering your risk is to
purchase certain organic items, and "settling" for others that are
conventionally grown. Animal products, like meat, butter, milk, and
eggs, are the most important to buy organic, since animal
products tend to bioaccumulate toxins from their pesticide-laced
feed, concentrating them to far higher concentrations than are
typically present in vegetables.
Unlike conventional fruits and vegetables, where peeling and
washing can sometimes reduce the amounts of these toxins, the
pesticides and drugs that these animals get exposed to during their
lives can become incorporated into their very tissues, especially
their fat. So if you're on a budget, choose organic animal foods
first.
Beyond animal foods, the pesticide load of different fruits and
vegetables can vary greatly. Consumer Reports analyzed 12
years of data from the USDA's Pesticide Data Program to determine
the risk categories (from very low to very high) for different types
of produce.24
Because children are especially vulnerable to the effects of
environmental chemicals, including pesticides, they based the risk
assessment on a 3.5-year-old child. They recommended buying organic
for any produce that came back in the medium or higher risk
categories, which left the following foods as examples of those you
should always try to buy organic.
Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan) introduced a bill that would preempt states'
rights to enact GMO labeling laws. It would specifically prohibit
Congress or individual states from requiring mandatory labeling of GMO
foods or ingredients. It would also allow food manufacturers to use the
word "natural" on products that contain GMOs.
Unfortunately, the bill has been passed in the House and now heads to
the Senate. There needs to be an extra push to put an end to the
absurdity. It's imperative you contact your senators today urging them
to not support HR 1599. Tell them this bill is an attack on consumer
rights and states' rights, and you expect your elected officials to
protect you.
You can find your senators' contact information by clicking the
button below, or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. To
set up an in-person meeting with your senators, contact their district
office.
It's really imperative to concentrate our efforts on our senators
right now, and to inform them accurately. They're being deceived by
industry lobbyists, and this is our last chance to preserve our right to
know what is in our food.