A sea change in approach over how the EPA classifies PFAS forever chemicals will allow thousands to escape regulation and poses serious risks to our health. This begs the question: is the EPA looking out for Americans or for the chemical industry? Action Alert! Read more.
Get Informed on Issues Related to Chemicals
How Eco-Friendly Is Cultivated Meat?
Cultivated meat is on its way to a major tipping point: the culmination of decades of development and the beginning of a vast potential market. Venture capitalists, governments, and tech moguls have poured billions of dollars into more than 100 startups whose collective goal is to replicate animal flesh in laboratories and bioreactors and give it the characteristics—and prices—of natural meat. Advocates believe they’ll also reduce the impact of animal agriculture on Earth’s climate. Read more.
In Our Blood: How the US Allowed Toxic Chemicals to Seep Into our Lives
For decades, it was the secret behind the magic show of homemaking across the US. Applied to a pan, it could keep a fried egg from sticking to the surface. Soaked into a carpet, it could shrug off spills of red wine. Sprayed onto shoes and coats, it could keep the kids dry on a rainy day. But the most clandestine maneuver of perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, was much less endearing: seeping into the blood and organs of hundreds of millions of people who used products containing the chemical. Read more.
Why 2% is the Most Dangerous Number No One is Talking About
Recent research shows that whole classes of these chemicals are affecting sexuality and disrupting reproduction—not just in humans, but in a host of other animal species as well. But the whole subject is controversial and is getting far too little attention, partly because reproduction and sexuality are culturally sensitive topics, and partly because the chemicals industry wields considerable political power. In this article, we’ll explore both the science and the controversy, and see why 2 percent is such a scary number in this context. Read more.
‘It shows how pervasive this is’–Concerns after tests indicate weedkiller may be inescapable
Glyphosate has been found in samples taken from all but one of a group of Irish volunteers tested for the controversial weedkiller. The exercise has deepened fears that the chemical is more widespread than ever and becoming increasingly difficult to avoid. Read more.
The World Has Changed, but Monsanto’s Glyphosate Remains
In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer acknowledged the carcinogenicity of glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide. This made lawsuits on behalf of Roundup exposed cancer victims possible and resulted in billion-dollar jury awards. Shamefully, the IARC decision didn’t influence the Environmental Protection Agency, but Bayer (which now owns Monsanto) said that, to limit liability, by 2023 it would stop selling glyphosate-based herbicides to consumers, limiting sales to farmers and pesticide professionals. Read more.
Natural Solutions for Insect Control: the Power of Peppermint
Are you tired of dealing with pesky insects in and around your home? Instead of resorting to chemical-laden bug sprays and store-bought insect repellents, consider using peppermint as a natural alternative. Read more.
Apeel and Edible Coatings: Your Questions Answered
If you’re one of the many organic consumers with questions or concerns about the food preservation product called Apeel, Cornucopia has answers. We believe consumers have the right to know what they are eating, not only to protect themselves but to support agricultural practices deserving of their investment. We’ve done extensive research to cut through misinformation and marketing copy. Read our guide, which includes some tips on what you can do to demand transparency around an ingredient you may not even know you’re eating. Read more.
Congress Ignores the Threat from PFAS Contamination
There are more than a dozen federal bills dealing with PFAS “forever chemical” contamination, but none meaningfully address the real problems with these chemicals or protect public health. We need to demand more. Action Alert! As we’ve detailed in our pilot study which received national and international media attention, our world and our bodies are already extensively contaminated with PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of more than 12,000 distinct organofluorine chemicals labeled “forever chemicals” because of their extreme persistence. Read more.
Pesticides and the Climate Crisis
Globally, food systems account for over one-third of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which includes agriculture and pesticide use. Pesticides exacerbate the climate emergency throughout their lifecycle via manufacturing, packaging, transportation, application, and even through environmental degradation and disposal. Many of the world’s biggest oil companies such as ExxonMobil, Shell and ChevronPhillips Chemical produce pesticides or their chemical ingredients. Read more.
