I came across an old article which I thought needed for the benefit of new parents to be as well as grandparents to be since I am to be a new grandfather in June. This article was by the Environmental Working Group and was titled" You are what you eat." Essentially this group was advocating for a change in the way major baby food companies prepare, grow or import, and label the foods which they prepare for infant consumption. This group did extensive research which showed a possible link to the rise of some disabilities. It further implied that this rise could be attributed to the foods which parents feed their children in their early formative years. These disabilities include the following:
• Childhood cancer
• Childhood neurological disorders
• Childhood learning disabilities
The researchers further stated that these supposedly safe baby foods could be contaminated by a variety of toxins which baby food companies have allowed to be sprayed upon the foods they grow or import from third world countries. These toxins include the following most of which have been shown to be possible carcinogenic agents.
• Atrazine
• Metolachlor
• 2,4.D
• Metam Sodium
• Methal Bromide
• Glyphosate
• Dichloropropene
• Cyanazine,
• Pendimethalin
• Trifluralin and
• Chlorpyrifos
Coincidentally some of these toxins which parents unexpectantly feed to their children have been shown to be neurological -toxins as well as endocrine disrupters. One from the above list-Methal Bromide is not only a lethal neuro-toxin but also a potent teratogen-or a substance which may cause possible birth defects. Besides this it has also been linked to possible Ozone depletion.
Some popular fruits and vegetables prepared specifically for infant consumption may have a level of these pesticides which exceeds a 10% safety level for foods consumed by infants. These may include the following:
• apple juice,
• apple sauce,
• green peas,
• green beans,
• pears,
• peaches,
• carrots,
• spinach, and
• blackberries
Infants exposed to these toxins eat more of these toxins than adults because their diet is less varied. With this in mind one can see why we have experienced a rise in the following:
• childhood neurological disorders,
• learning disabilities, and
• Childhood cancers
If parents want to insure the safety of their children's foods, they should seek legislation which would enforce a safety level of pesticides which enter foods formulated for infant consumption. If parents were to insist on such legislation then we might see a decline in childhood cancers, neurological disorders and some learning disabilities.
Until such legislation is in place then all parents this happens parents should require labeling of all baby foods. This labeling should tell them which pesticides were used as well as the amount of pesticide residue present prior to that food being processed into foods for infant consumption. These labels should indicate if this residue meets the 10% safety level or if it exceeds it.
