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7 Foods banned in E.U. but still available on U.S. shelves…
Posted in main squeeze with tags baby, banned, Bovine Growth Hormone, chemical, chicken, chlorinated, Dyes, E.U., eco, environment, environmentally responsible, fair, fair trade, farmers, food, Genetically Modified Foods, GMO, green, home, hunger, hyperactivity, kids, lunch, minerals, obtainable, organic, pesticides, policies, policy, rBGH, safe, safe food, social, socially responsible, Stevia, sustainable, sweetener on March 3, 2010 by Sustainable Choicefrom:
posted by Megan, selected from TreeHugger Feb 28, 2010 3:09 pm
By Christine Lepisto, TreeHugger
Genetically Modified Foods
Although the E.U. is continuously coming under attack for policies banning GM foods, the community is highly suspicious of genetically modified foods, and the agro-industrial pressures that drive their use. The problem with GM foods is that there is simply not sufficient research and understanding to inform good public policy. In spite of widespread GM use without apparent negative impacts in other countries, the recent public reaction to trans-fats are reason enough to support a precautionary principle for the food supply chain.
Pesticides in Your Food
The E.U. has acted against the worst pesticides typically found as residuals in the food chain. A ban on 22 pesticides was passed at the E.U. level, and is pending approval by the Member States. Critics claim the ban will raise prices and may harm malaria control, but advocates of the ban say action must be taken against the pesticides which are known to cause harm to health and nevertheless consistently found in studies of food consumption.
Bovine Growth Hormone
This drug, known as rBGH for short, is not allowed in Europe. In contrast, U.S. citizens struggle even for laws that allow hormone-free labeling so that consumers have a choice. This should be an easy black-and-white decision for all regulators and any corporation that is really concerned about sustainability: give consumers the information. We deserve control over our food choice.
Chlorinated Chickens
Amid cries that eating American chickens would degrade European citizens to the status of guinea pigs, the E.U. continued a ban on chickens washed in chlorine. The ban effectively prevents all import of chickens from the U.S. into Europe. If chicken chlorination is “totally absurd” and “outrageous” for Europeans, what does that mean for Americans?
Food Contact Chemicals
Phthalates and Bisphenols in plastic are really beneficial. They help manufacturers create plastic products with the softness and moldability needed to fulfill consumer needs. But when the food contact additives are found in the food and liquids contained by those plastics, trouble starts. Both the U.S. and Europe stringently regulate food contact use of chemicals. However, the standard of approval is different. In Europe, the precautionary principle requires that the suppliers of chemicals prove their additives safe, or they will be banned. Of course, although the E.U. has banned phthalates in toys, both phthalates and bisphenol-A remain approved for food contact uses — subject to strict regulations on their use.
Stevia, the natural sweetener
The U.S. recently approved this “natural” sweetener as a food additive. Previously, it was sold in the U.S. under the less stringent dietary supplement laws. It has been embraced in Japan for over three decades, but E.U. bans still stand — pointing to potential disturbances in fertility and other negative health impacts. But the sweetener is credited with potentially positive health effects too. Is this a case where consumer choice should prevail?
Planned Ban: Food Dyes
Many food dyes previously recognized as safe are suspected of contributing to attention deficit disorder. Action is afoot as the UK evaluates a ban on synthetic food colors. Regulation in the E.U. often starts through the leadership of one Member State, which pushes the concepts up to Brussels after a proof-of-concept pilot phase. Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, and Red 3 are among the food colors associated with hyperactivity.
Mobile Phone Radition (ick) Rate your phone!
Posted in fruits of our labor, inside slice, main squeeze with tags at&t, cancer, cell, cell phone, conflict, eco, environment, environmentally responsible, home, kids, mobile, obtainable, phone, radiation, socially responsible, sustainable, verizon on March 2, 2010 by Sustainable ChoiceWell the time has come…you can evaluate the safety of your phone, and I don’t mean if it’s safe to talk and drive or not… but instead how much radiation are you drinking up with that conversation… The Environmental Working Group has gathered data and evaluates most phones…check out how yours rates:
http://www.ewg.org/cellphoneradiation/Get-a-Safer-Phone
The following chart is taken from the Environmental Working Group:
Best and Worst Phones
Listing is based on phones currently available from major carriers. You can also see all available phones or all phones (current and legacy) ranked by radiation.
Posted in main squeeze with tags eco, environment, environmentally responsible, grapefruit, green, obtainable, organic, social, socially responsible, sustainable on November 12, 2009 by Sustainable Choice
Sustainable Choice
Obtainable Grapefruit 