Are There Antibiotics in Your Food? (Don’t Worry – It’s Nothing to be Afraid Of)
By now, if you have read any health articles at all, you have heard that conventional meat and dairy products might contain antibiotics.
This is probably the driving factor behind the increased demand for free range meats raised without antibiotics. Sales of these types of foods increased more than 25 percent in 2012.
While the overuse of antibiotics in animals used for meat can cause an increase in super bugs (bacteria that is resistant to known antibiotics), the same is true of people. The abuse of antibiotics in humans has also lead to super bugs being created.
Super bugs can be passed from meat to humans and this can be not only serious, but deadly!
Do you have reason to worry? Let’s take a look at the facts.
Antibiotic Use in Meat Animals
To stop bacterial infections, farm animals, such as cows and chickens, are sometimes given antibiotics, very much the same way humans are.
However, for milk cows, antibiotics are often given in low doses to help the animals give more milk in a shorter time frame. Low doses of antibiotics are often added to feed as well to encourage growth. Low doses of antibiotics reduce animal death rate.
For all of the above reasons, low doses of antibiotics are typically given to animals used for meat and milk, such as cows, pigs, turkeys, and chickens.
Isn’t That Dangerous for Humans?
Actually, no. Despite what you might have read or been told, the chances that you or a family member could consume antibiotics through your food is very, very low.
There are strict rules in place that ensure that food contaminated with antibiotics cannot reach grocery stores. Livestock owners, as well as vets, are bound by law to ensure that drug withdrawal time periods are enforced before meat, eggs, or dairy products are used as food. This allows the antibiotics, and other drugs, to leave the animal’s system.
In America, the USDA has a very strict process of testing meat, eggs, milk, and poultry for contamination from drugs and antibiotic residue.
In fact, there is no evidence that anyone has ever been harmed if antibiotic residue were to somehow make it into the food chain.
One study, done in 2010, found that less than 0.8 percent of all animal products tested, had antibiotic residue. Those food items were destroyed, by the way. So regardless of what some websites might be screaming at you in bold text, they won’t ever show you proof that someone was harmed because no one has been.
Why Are People So Upset about Antibiotic Use in Animals Then?
Bacteria that are constantly exposed to antibiotics do what Mother Nature designed them to do; become resistant to them and evolve so that antibiotics are no longer a threat.
This is a tremendous concern for public health. If bacteria become immune to our current supply of antibiotics, millions of lives could be lost to disease.
These antibiotic resistant bacteria, often called super bugs, can be passed from animals to humans.
How can this happen?
Meat that is contaminated with this type of bacteria can pass it on to humans if the meat is not cooked thoroughly or if it is not handled properly.
For example, people who consume produce that was sprayed with animal manure fertilizer that contain these super bugs can also become infected. In fact, one study found that persons who lived close to fields that were fertilized with pig manure were at a much higher risk for developing one type of super bug called MRSA.
Humans can also spread these super bugs from person to person.
Aren’t Organic or Free Range Meats and Dairy Products Safe?
Unfortunately, no. While you might see products in your supermarket listing themselves as “antibiotic free” or “Free Range Organic”, this does not mean that these products cannot contain these super bugs.
One study found that chickens that were labeled as “Free Range and/or Organic” were much more likely to be contaminated with campylobacter or salmonella bacteria that non-organic chicken.
The Bottom Line
While it might be impossible to avoid super bugs in foods completely (unless you raise and butcher your own animals), the truth is that your risk of becoming contaminated is very, very low if you follow safety guidelines.
- Practice Good Hygiene: Use separate cutting boards for different meats and another one for vegetables. Always wash your hands frequently and wash both utensils and cutting boards in hot water. Rinse cutting boards with bleach on a regular basis.
- Cook Foods Properly: Cooking meat to the correct temperature will kill any bacteria that might be present.
- Buy Foods that State “Antibiotic Free”: While this isn’t a guarantee that your food is not contaminated with bacteria, studies show that these types of meats and dairy products have fewer super bugs.
Don’t be afraid to eat a wide variety of foods, including meat and dairy products. Handling and cooking food properly is the best way to avoid a bacterial infection.
Everything You Must Know about Toxins and Arsenic in Your Rice and Baby Food
Many people believe that eating rice, along with a bit of meat and lots of vegetables, is a healthy alternative to Western meals that are often loaded with fat and sugars.
However, did you know that studies have found that rice is typically contaminated with arsenic?
This is especially frightening when you consider that most people feed rice based cereals and snacks to infants and children. Those who are allergic to other types of milk are given rice milk as an alternative.
Just how dangerous is the rice in your Chinese takeout? Let’s take a look at the facts.
What Exactly Is Arsenic?
Inorganic arsenic is a toxic trace element that is often found in rocks, soil, and water. When found in this form, inorganic arsenic is the most toxic.
Organic arsenic is found in many plant and animal tissues. While both types are naturally found in our environment, the accumulation of inorganic arsenic is becoming a problem due to pollution.
In this article, we will be addressing the problem of inorganic arsenic in rice.
Why is Rice So Contaminated?
Because arsenic is found in rocks, soil, and water, rice tends to absorb arsenic more than crops grown in drier climates or with less water.
Arsenic pollution is increasing in our soil and water due to pesticides, herbicides, industrial waste, coal burning plants, smelting, and phosphate based fertilizers, and wood preservatives.
Arsenic drains into the soil and groundwater, which is then used on crops. Since rice is grown in swamp like conditions, the plants are able to absorb much of what is in the soil and water, unfortunately in this case, it’s arsenic.
Do I Have Reason to be Concerned?
Yes. If you or your children consume large amounts of rice, this could be a problem for you and your family members. Many people who consume Asian based diets, or Asian people themselves, consume great quantities of rice. Also, persons who need to consume a dairy free or gluten free diet often consume large portions of rice as an alternative.
Young children are also at a greater risk because of their small body size.
Many infant and baby foods are made from rice, as well as brown rice syrup, which are often used as a sweetener in baby formula.
What are the Health Risks of Arsenic?
Our bodies are able to handle small amounts of arsenic with no long term effects; however, for those who consume large quantities, arsenic is extremely toxic. It can cause a wide range of negative health problems and even death!
Common health problems due to high levels of inorganic arsenic include:
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Reduced intelligence
- Impaired cognitive skills
- Some types of cancer
How Can I Reduce My Risk?
The best way to greatly reduce the arsenic in rice is to soak it first in clean water. Drain the water out after a few hours, and then cook it in another batch of clean water. This alone can cut the amount of arsenic in rice by as much as 57 percent.
Keep in mind that brown rice is higher in arsenic than white rice. Also, rice grown in areas around the Himalayans, such as North India, Nepal, and North Pakistan, have lower levels of arsenic. Choosing aromatic rice, such as jasmine rice or basmati rice, will help to cut down on the amount of arsenic in your meal.
If you have small children or infants that regularly eat rice snacks, cereals or formula, be certain to limit the amounts that they consume each day. Consider changing your baby’s formula to one that does not include rice or brown rice syrup.
Eating rice in moderation is a healthy part of a varied diet. Remember, the dose makes the poison. Enjoy rice dishes in moderation and everything will be just fine.
5 Things They Never Tell You about The Dirty Dozen List (We Love #2!)
If you love reading about the latest health news, then you are probably very familiar with the so called “Dirty Dozen” list. If not, the dirty dozen is an annual report from The Environmental Working Group that tests various fruits and vegetables for pesticide residue. The Dirty Dozen is their interpretation of the data and which produce items tested highest for containing pesticide residue.
The problem with this report is that it is actually loaded with pseudoscience (typically referred to as “woo”), questionable methodology, as well as plenty of misinformation.
Let’s look at the top 5 things they will never tell you about that dirty dozen list.
- Their Methodology Isn’t What You Think It Is
Scientists at UC Davis found in a 2011 analysis of the “dirty dozen” that it was seriously flawed. These scientists discovered that a consumers’ exposure to what the Environmental Working Group determined was the 10 most frequently found pesticides list were at such low levels that they were “negligible.” They also found that the methodology that the EWG uses was insufficient to allow for any real ranking among the produce being tested. In short, the EWG could rank foods and pesticides all day long, but it didn’t make any difference because the amounts of residue contained were so small that they were not worth mentioning.
- You Would Need to Eat Tons of Food
One of the things the EWG fails to note on their dirty dozen list is the quantity of food you would have to eat to get any real impact from the pesticide residue. For example, strawberries always make this list; however, the EWG doesn’t mention that a child would have to eat more than 1500 strawberries in one day to experience any type of negative impact of pesticides. Um….we don’t know about your family, but no matter how much we love strawberries, we are NOT eating 1500 of them in a week, let alone in one day!
- Pesticide Residue is NOT a Real Concern
The USDA released a 2014 report that looked at this exact problem and found that more than 99 percent of all produce had residue levels FAR below safety levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency. So while the EWG did find pesticide residue on produce, the levels are so low that they don’t make a difference. This is fear mongering on the part of the EWG, nothing more.
- Organic or Conventional – Both use Pesticides
Many people mistakenly believe that organic means NO pesticide use, and the organic produce industry has done nothing to dispel this belief. The fact is, both organic and conventional farming methods use pesticides. Yes, organic farmers use pesticides, some of which are more dangerous than synthetic pesticides. Conventional farmers must follow strict rules from the EPA, which tell them how many days must pass between the time that the last pesticide is applied and when they can harvest their crop. This ensures that there is a minimal amount of residue present on your food.
- America’s Food Production is Safe
The EWG suggests that governmental agencies are lax in their oversight of pesticides, their usage, as well as being too quick to approve new pesticides. The truth is that the EPA often takes years to approve new pesticides. Every single pesticide is tested and reviewed periodically to ensure food safety.
You do not have to avoid any produce! Everyone can benefit from the healthy goodness of fruits and vegetables. Whether you choose organic or conventional, no one can deny that eating more produce is something everyone benefits from, so don’t let this “dirty dozen” list scare you away from eating certain foods if you can’t find “organic” versions.
Eat more fresh produce from Mother Nature and don’t let the naysayers make you turn away from the earth’s bounty.
The Truth about Baby Carrots and Other “Organic” Foods
If you are like most people, you try to eat healthy. This usually means you are stocking up on salads and vegetables, right? What about those baby carrots? Who doesn’t love those? They are the perfect size snack for little ones, fit easily in a zip lock bag, super easy for dips, and they taste so sweet! So when you see those bags of organic baby carrots go on sale, do you pop a few in your shopping cart, along with all those other organic produce items? Do you feel great about serving your family these pesticide free products from Mother Nature?
Let’s talk turkey about where those baby carrots (sometimes called cocktail carrots) actually come from.
In the 1960’s and 1970’s, carrots that were broken or misshapen were actually thrown out or sold for next to nothing as pig food. One carrot farmer decided enough was enough! He began to peel these carrots into the familiar little 2 inch carrots we eat today. Over the past 30 years, carrots have been “bred” to make naturally smaller, sweeter baby carrots. Although they were not genetically modified in a lab, those baby carrots are still the product of more than 250 known varieties of carrots, interbred to get what we today call baby carrots.
There is something else you should know about these carrots. To keep them small in size, they are planted very close together, harvested just 120 days after planting, washed, peeled, and then dipped in a chlorine bath. Yes, even organic carrots. In fact, all cut produce is dipped in chlorine. This is considered to be a standard practice. If they were not given this little dip in the pool, all cut or peeled veggies would rot within 2 to 4 days.
Contrary to what most people think, that organic label your produce does not mean “pesticide free”. It doesn’t even mean “chemical free”. Depending on the state, organic farmers can use a wide variety of pesticides on their crops. The difference is that the pesticides they use must come from an organic source, not synthetic.
Keep in mind that “natural” does not necessarily mean “safe.” Arsenic is organic but it can hardly be called safe.
One problem with these organic pesticides is that, since they are not usually as effective as synthetic pesticides, more of them must be used. Rotenone and pyrethrin are two very common organic pesticides. One study found that it took 7 applications of rotenone and pyrethrin to kill the same amount of insects that two applications of imidan, a synthetic pesticide with a very short “life” after application. It’s hard to imagine anyone believing that 7 applications are better than two! Especially when you consider that rotenone is six times as toxic as its synthetic counterpart, Sevin, and that nicotine sulfate, used since at least the 1800’s, is not only quickly absorbed through the skin, but it is also six times more deadly than diazinon, a very popular synthetic insecticide.
Even so called “organic” produce can still contain synthetic pesticides. The USDA and EPA did a survey of produce and found that 20 percent of all “organic” lettuce contained residue from a popular synthetic pesticide that is sold under the name of Entrust,
Why don’t organic farmers tell you that organic doesn’t mean pesticide free? It’s fairly obvious that they would lose business, so why mention it? Why don’t pesticide manufacturers tell you this? Why should they care? Whether they are selling organic pesticides or synthetic pesticides, they are making money.
This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t buy organic produce. We simply want to make people aware of what they are actually paying for. Organic does not mean pesticide free. Unless you know the grower and can ask him what he has used on his crops, you don’t really know and you could be paying three times the price for organic produce! This doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense if you are still getting produce that contains pesticides.
This is why shopping at your local farmer’s market can be so very helpful. Ask the farmer exactly which pesticides he uses on his produce and why. In today’s information age, you can look up these pesticides and make sensible food decisions for you and your family.