Why are chemicals so pervasive in industrial foods?
The increased usage of chemicals in food production means more money for agribusinesses. With each new protein or hormone, the agribusiness is able to patent and gain exclusive sales rights. There is more money to be made off of engineered foods than foods that grow and reproduce naturally.
Don’t these chemicals protect the crop from pests and create a more stable food system?
Though this is certainly a selling point from agribusinesses, the usage of pesticides, herbicides, and genetically engineered crops has not created a more stable food system. The long-term effects of these chemicals on humans have not been adequately studied. Additionally, the increasing crop homogenization and decrease in species diversification leaves us vulnerable to a pest, virus or bacteria that could wipe out an entire crop. Though the chemicals do prevent pests in the short-term, the long-term public health effects are much more detrimental.
How does chemical exposure in food consumption effect our children’s bodies?
Since 70% of our immune system is located in our digestive tracts, the foods we eat along with the chemicals they contain significantly impact our health. As these foods travel down the intestines, they can corrode the “pipes” much in the same way that chemical toxins corrode plumbing. The damage inflicted can leave a child vulnerable to a long list of autoimmune disorders such as food allergies, asthma, and ADD/ADHD, among many others.
What can I do to help protect my family? 5 Steps Towards A More Secure Diet:
- Educate yourself and others about industrial food.
- Eat a healthy, unprocessed diet.
- Buy local, organic fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid meat and dairy products that have been treated with hormones or antibiotics.
- Get a food allergy test for family members that display signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction.
