AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) Calling for better regulations on plastic products that we use for food and drink.

It has been all over the news that plastics are a determinant to our environment, with the recent “waves of garbage” washing up in the Dominican Republic and the findings that micro-plastics have found their way into a lot of our food supply and our surroundings as well. 

~Here is a great resource for understanding micro-plastics~

Pushing the plastic issue to the forefront has caused people to try and find ways to reduce their plastic usage, by finding alternatives. Using glass bottles instead of plastic, bringing your own bag to the grocery store, and having a reusable metal water bottle. ~This is a great video showing five simple ways you can help reduce your plastic use.~

The problem is that if you already have plastic products, chances are you probably try to reuse them as much as possible, so that they don’t end up in landfills or our oceans, an innocent practice that could be causing harm. A  new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics  shows evidence that heating and reusing plastics, could be leaking harmful chemicals into your food and drinks. The study warns specifically about the dangers of heating food in plastic containers in the microwave, (including baby bottles), and washing plastic containers in the dishwasher, where they are exposed to high heat. It has shown that the plastics exposure to high heat causes the chemicals BPA & phthalates to leak into your food and drinks. Here are the five major chemicals and additives that they found most harmful:

“Some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard, and different types of coatings used for processing and packaging. The additives of most concern, based on rising research evidence cited in the report, include:

• Bisphenols, such as BPA, used to harden plastic containers and line metal cans, can act like estrogen in the body and potentially change the timing of puberty, decrease fertility, increase body fat, and affect the nervous and immune systems. BPA is now banned in baby bottles and sippy cups.

• Phthalates, which makes plastic and vinyl tubes used in industrial food production flexible, may affect male genital development, increase childhood obesity, and contribute to cardiovascular disease. In 2017, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of some phthalates in child-care products such as teething rings.

• Perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs), used in grease-proof paper and cardboard food packaging, may reduce immunity, birth weight, and fertility. Research also shows PFCs may affect the thyroid system, key to metabolism, digestion, muscle control, brain development, and bone strength.

• Perchlorate, added to some dry food packaging to control static electricity, is known to disrupt thyroid function, early life brain development and growth. 

• Artificial food colors, common in children’s food products, may be associated with worsened attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Studies cited in the report found a significant number of children who cut synthetic food colorings from their diets showed decreased ADHD symptoms.

• Nitrates/nitrites are used to preserve food and enhance color, especially in cured and processed meats. These chemicals can interfere with thyroid hormone production and the blood’s ability to deliver oxygen in the body. Nitrates and nitrites also have been linked with gastrointestinal and nervous system cancers. “

  (To read more about the effect of food additives on children’s health, here is a study by the the AAP)

Apparently, Federal food safety regulations in regards to plastics has not changed since the 1950’s when plastics first became a popular item. Since then, research has shown that the original designation process that characterized things as “generally recognized as safe” is not an effect process anymore. The AAP is calling for more rigorous “requirements for toxicity testing before use in the marketplace and re-testing previously approved chemicals” the study cites. Until the regulations change, USA Today cites ways for families to avoid having these chemicals in their food: 

• buying fresh or frozen vegetables
• using glass or stainless steel containers
• avoiding putting plastics in the microwave or dishwasher
• avoiding processed meats
• avoiding plastics with recycling codes 3, 6 or 7 ( something you can find on the bottom of most plastic items)
• washing hands and foods thoroughly before eating

SNAP Benefits to continue at Farmer’s Markets in NY State with help from Governor Cuomo

Allowing SNAP recipients (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) the ability to use their benefits at farmer’s markets has helped 1,000’s of low income Americans have access to fresh healthy produce. In July, Nova Dia Group, the company that provides the mobile software which enables farmer’s markets to process SNAP benefits, announced it was going to end service on July 31st, according to the Washington Post. The Federal government gave their funding to another group that does not support mobile processing, which makes up 40% of all SNAP benefit users. Gothamist reports that this would be devastating to NYC in particular, because  most farmers markets in the city depend on the mobile processing for their SNAP benefit card holders.  This would cause problems for both the farmers, who are at the peak of their selling and growing season, and the patrons, who rely on farmer’s markets for their weekly fresh produce. A national nonprofit announced last week that they will provide operational funding to the Novo Dia Group for an extra month, allowing time for states to find alternative funding.

Luckily, New York State will not be losing their SNAP Benefit program at farmer’s markets! Governor Cuomo announced last week that the state would be working with Farmer’s Market Federation of New York to support the SNAP program through January 2019, using the Nova Dia Group’s mobile processing software. Cuomo’s decision to keep farmer’s markets accessible to SNAP benefit holders will hopefully be an example for other states to follow suit. However, he made it very clear, that this is a federal issue and that the government needs to deal with this sooner, rather than later.

He also issued a letter to the US Department of Agriculture’s Secretary, Sonny Purdue, urging the federal government to take action on the issue. 

“New York will not stand idly by as the federal government’s ineptitude takes food out of the mouths of New Yorkers,” Governor Cuomo said. “This is just another example of the Trump administration’s continued assault on the nation’s most needy. While the federal government doles out a contract to an untested company using outdated technology, we will continue to protect not only our most vulnerable residents, but our hard-working farmers.”

If you or someone you know runs, or participates in, a farmer’s market here is a link to information for how to set up the system for allowing SNAP Benefit users into your market! 

• A guide to setting up SNAP benefits at your farmer’s market : http://farmersmarketcoalition.org/education/snap/
• Explanation and history of SNAP benefit program at farmer’s markets: http://farmersmarketcoalition.org/advocacy/snap/
• https://www.fns.usda.gov/ebt/snap-and-farmers-markets