| Petit Appetit Copyright 2006 |
| WHY "ORGANIC" FOR CHILDREN? |
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| Because babies and children eat a higher quantity of fruits and vegetables relative to their size and body weight than adults, much of their exposure to potentially harmful chemicals and pesticides occurs early in life. To the right are some helpful websites about organic foods, finding a farmer's market in your local city and state, buying sustainable foods, and making choices to lead a more organic lifestyle. Below are some U.S. Government Facts regarding children's chemical and pesticide exposure via food products. (The sources of this information include the US EPA, Dept of Health and Human Services, USDA and FDA. This information is compiled by the Organic Consumers Association.) *The US Centers for Disease Control reports that one of the main sources of pesticide exposure for U.S. children comes from the food they eat. *In blood samples of children aged 2 to 4, concentrations of pesticide residues are six times higher in children eating conventionally farmed fruits and vegetables compared with those eating organic food. *According to EPA's "Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment" children receive 50% of their lifetime cancer risks in the first two years of life. *Half of conventionally grown produce in grocery stores contains measurable residues of pesticides. Laboratory tests of 8 industry-leader baby foods reveal the presence of 16 pesticides, including three carcinogens *Currently over 400 chemicals can be regularly used in conventional farming as biocides to kill weeds and insects. For example apples can be sprayed up to 16 times with 36 different pesticides. None of these chemicals are present in organic foods. *Over 300 synthetic food additives are allowed by the FDA in conventional foods. None of these are allowed in foods that are USDA certified organic. |
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