Food safety sits at the intersection between “Nutrition” and “Surroundings” within the Circle of Health. Recently, the public has become aware of the importance of food safety, and this has affected purchasing behaviors. This movement was inspired by recently publicized food scares (e.g., mad cow disease, E.coli outbreaks, bagged salad recalls), uncertainty about genetically modified foods (GMOs), and concern over recent changes in food cultivation. The following tool focuses on some common questions—and potential solutions—regarding food safety concerns. It is meant to be a brief introduction to this topic. Referenced websites contain more detailed information.

Pesticides in Produce

Studies show that it is important to eat a well-balanced diet that includes 7 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Unfortunately, most conventionally grown produce contains small amounts of synthetic pesticides, and research indicates that these can cause harm; for instance, insecticides, like many other toxic compounds, can affect brain development,¹ and may increase risk for disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.² In addition, pesticides frequently contain endocrine disrupting chemicals, which interfere with our body’s natural hormone production by increasing, decreasing, or completely changing the function of our hormones. Multiple environmental studies have shown that these changes can lead to reduced fertility, thyroid hormone disruption, increased cancer risk, and sleep disorders.³