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Baby Foods may not be all they are cracked up to be.

© William Robb

This is usually not my style of advocacy which is usually aimed at advocating for those are already disabled. However I read an article which started me to think. The Title of this article was, You are what you eat and came from the Environmental Working Group.

If one were to read this article, then they might begin to realize, as I did, that the major rise of some disabilities-like childhood cancers, childhood neurological disorders, and childhood learning disabilities- could possible be linked to environmental causes. Specifically the consumption of baby foods which may have been contaminated by a variety of toxic pesticides.

Here is the Url for anyone interested in finding more about toxic pesticides which are found in baby foods. http://www.ewg.org/pub/home/reports/appl... http://www.2020vision.org/action/0899sal...

Here is a list of pesticides which may be currently sprayed on crops which may be processed into baby foods. These pesticides may include the following: Atrazine, Metolachlor, 2,4.D, Metam Sodium. Methal Bromide, Glyphosate, Dichloropropene, Cyanazine, Pendimethalin, Trifluralin. and Chlorpyrifos. Most of these have been shown to be possible carcinogens. Some have been shown to be neurotoxicants and endocrine disrupters. One, Methal Bromide, is not only a lethal neruotoxin and a teratogen - a substance which may cause birth defects-but it also has been linked to possible Ozone depletion.

Infants exposed to these pesticides eat more of these toxins than adults because their diet is less varied.Therefore the possible rise of childhood neurological disorders, learning disabilities, and childhood cancers.

Some popular fruits and vegetables prepared specifically for infant consumption may have a level of these pesticide which exceeds a 10% safety level for foods consumed by infants. Such popular baby foods and juices may include but is not limited to the following: apple juice, apple sauce, green peas, green beans, pears, peaches, carrots, spinach, and blackberries.

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 do this then there might be a reduction in childhood cancers, neurological disorders and some learning disabilities. Until this happens parents should require labeling of all baby foods. Such labeling should tell which pesticides were used and the amount of pesticide residue still present prior to their being processed into foods for infant comsumption. These labels should indicate if this residue meets the 10% safety level or if it exceeds it.

Source of information: Environmental Working Group. Compiled from USDA and FDA pesticide residue data 1992-1997.

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