School lunches in the USA tainted by pesticides

Man applying pesticides
(UnSplash photo)

Pesticides contain poisonous toxins and are dangerous.

Notice also the following:

October 11, 2024

Under the Biden administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is developing a series of new policies to protect the environment against pesticide exposure, especially for endangered and threatened species. https://agupdate.com/midwestmessenger/news/crop/prepare-for-change-under-new-epa-pesticide-strategies/article_905f47f0-8651-11ef-814f-fb02de2b9962.html

While it is good to reduce toxic pollution and protect wild species from pesticides, what about also protecting people, including children from them?

A reader sent me a link to the following:

‘Shocking’: Heavy Metals, Nearly 50 Pesticides Detected In School Lunches

October 10, 2024

Food items served to school kids in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., contained heavy metals, including lead, and roughly 50 pesticides, according to new testing commissioned by Spotlight on America.

The Health Research Institute (HRI), an accredited independent lab in Iowa, conducted the testing. HRI’s Chief Scientist and CEO John Fagan told The Defender, “We tested every part of the lunch … it was pretty shocking.”

Nearly 30 million U.S. kids eat school lunch every day, according to the School Nutrition Association.

Fagan’s lab identified 49 pesticides — listed at the end of this article — with 38 different pesticides detected in just one elementary school lunch. Among them was carbendazim, a fungicide banned in most European countries that can cause infertility and endocrine disruption.

Many wheat-based items contained the weedkiller glyphosate, commonly marketed as Roundup, which causes cancer and disrupts immune function.

A single strawberry cup contained 23 pesticides, Spotlight on America reported.

Fagan’s lab also found numerous heavy metals in the samples. According to the Cleveland Clinic, exposure to heavy metals can cause irreversible damage to the human body, and may even be life-threatening.

Lead — which “at any level is harmful to children’s IQ,” Fagan said — was found in 100% of the samples.

Some samples contained cadmium, a heavy metal known to increase the risk of lung cancer, at a level 12 times higher than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) limit for bottled water, according to Spotlight on America.

The lab also found arsenic in rice at levels 6 times higher than what’s allowed in apple juice, Spotlight on America said.

Fagan said, “The children need our help and protection.”

Zen Honeycutt — founder and executive director of Moms Across America, a nonprofit representing hundreds of thousands of mothers who want safer food served to their kids — agreed.

Honeycutt told The Defender that if foreign countries were serving these types and amounts of toxins to our children, “we would call it poison and be at war with them.”

“It is time,” she added, “for parents and concerned citizens to demand that our regulatory agencies require the food suppliers and farmers to do better. This is not an impossible task … it is, in fact, what regenerative, organic and biodynamic farmers do every day.”

School meals should not be ‘another source of toxic exposure’ https://connecticutcentinal.com/shocking-heavy-metals-nearly-50-pesticides-detected-in-school-lunches/

It is not only school lunches that are affected by toxins.

Many foods that are naturally healthy have been tainted by pesticides:

‘Superfoods’ like blueberries, spinach and kale named among ‘dirty dozen’ produce aisle fruits and veggies with most pesticides

Blueberries and green beans joined the highest amount of pesticides list

They contain organophosphates which can damage the human nervous system

People exposed to common pesticide have signs of cancer in their urine

Blueberries, spinach and kale — each usually recognized as among the healthiest foods one can eat — have been named among produce with the most pesticides.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), based in Washington DC, named its ‘dirty dozen’ produce foods this week, a dubious honor reserved only for fruits and vegetables in America laced with the most chemicals.

Alongside the antioxidant-rich blueberries and leafy greens are other snacktime favorites such as strawberries, grapes, apples, nectarines, pears and cherries. …

The EWG studied 46 produce aisle staples for its study, and found that 75 percent of freshly grown produce in America contain residue of harmful pesticides. Human ingestion can damage the nervous system or even cause cancer. …

Over 250 different pesticides were discovered on the fruits and vegetables, some of which have been barred in the US or Europe because of the effect they have on human health.

For example, the neurotoxic organophosphate insecticide acephate, which was banned from use on green beans in 2011 showed up on six percent of green bean samples.

The insecticide is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a possible human carcinogen.

Both blueberries and green beans harbor worrying levels of organophosphate insecticides.

These can damage the human nervous system and is particularly poisonous for children’s developing brains. 03/17/23 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11869115/Superfoods-like-blueberries-spinach-kale-laced-dangerous-chemicals.html

Our food should be nourishing and safe to eat.

But more than 10,000 chemicals are allowed in food sold in the U.S. Some are direct additives, such as preservatives like butylated hydroxyanisole, or BHA, and butylated hydroxytoluene, or BHT, which are intentionally added to processed food. Others are so-called indirect additives, like heavy metals, which contaminate food during processing, storage and packaging.

Almost 99 percent of food chemicals introduced since 2000 were greenlighted for use by food and chemical companies, rather than properly reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. Many of these widely used chemicals are associated with major health harms, including increased risk of cancer, developmental harm and hormone disruption.

These substances end up in what we eat, thanks to a legal loophole that allows foods to be classified as “generally recognized as safe.” It’s a loophole food and chemical companies have exploited for decades – it means that instead of the FDA determining which food chemicals are safe to consume, the manufacturers of those substances decide.accessed 03/19/23 https://www.ewg.org/consumer-guides/ewgs-dirty-dozen-guide-food-chemicals-top-12-avoid?gclid=CjwKCAjw5dqgBhBNEiwA7PryaFFWHZ-6l-xZJzAiAe1UuKeh0kgnoMD9D3SauIXxZD8PnU25_q5johoCcCIQAvD_BwE

Yes, there are many, many pesticides used in conventional agriculture.

Most, in small amounts, do not noticeably affect human health.

However, none in my opinion (and based on what I learned in conventional nutrition classes), have been thoroughly tested to ensure that they do not cause or contribute to human health problems. We know some do cause problems, but that does not mean that the others do not. It is just that the ways that they are tested do not take into account all the variables and possible health problems they could contribute to.

Organic produce, foods grown without pesticides, are better. But they are normally more expensive, often less available, and sometimes not as fresh. And because they are normally grown in regions with other farms, organic produce also, often, has pesticide residues. However, they are normally much less than their non-organic counterparts.

And then there is refined carbohydrates and ultra processed foods–which have their own health risks (e.g., see CNN: Cognitive decline linked to ultraprocessed food, study finds).

The Bible teaches:

2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good (Isaiah 55:2).

Information on how to do so should not be suppressed.

But, YouTube did that to us. However, the good news is that nearly a decade ago, when I saw that YouTube was effectively ‘shadow banning’ our videos, we in the CCOG decided to go on additional platforms. Here is information and a link to the YouTube censored video that we still have up at BitChute:

Feb 21, 2021

COVID-19: Eat what is good!

US President Joe Biden said on 2/19/21 that the USA may NOT “return to normal” in 2021 because of vaccine and mutation issues. Is there another approach? Would it make sense to improve nutrition to strengthen the immune system and to help people with COVID-19? What about zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin D? What about avoiding unclean meats? What about eating more fruits and vegetables and items such as pumpkin seeds and Brazil nuts? What about eating bovine glandulars? What about herbs? Could fasting help? What about exercise and sunlight? What about masks, lockdowns, junk food, obesity, and weight gain? Dr. Thiel, who possesses a US regionally accredited PhD. in nutrition science from the Union Institute and University, a Master of Science degree from the University of Southern California, and a natural scientist license from the State of Alabama, explains why people may wish to consider approaches for their immune system. He also goes over scriptures related to worse pandemics coming (associated with the ride of the fourth horseman of the Apocalypse–Revelation 6:7-8), and the fact that the Bible teaches to “eat what is good” (Isaiah 55:2).

A written article, with references, of related interest is also available titled “Joe Biden: life may not return to normal this year due to COVID mutations; Paul Roberts: The Covid Pandemic Is The Result of Public Health Authorities Blocking Effective Treatment” URL: https://www.cogwriter.com/news/prophecy/joe-biden-life-may-not-return-to-normal-this-year-due-to-covid-mutations-paul-roberts-the-covid-pandemic-is-the-result-of-public-health-authorities-blocking-effective-treatment/

Here is a link to the censored video: COVID-19: Eat what is good!

Now, related to food, we put out the following video:

1:11:59

Let’s Talk About Food

The Bible says to eat what is good. Does the Bible give any information on what to eat and not eat? What happened in the Garden of Eden? What about Noah? What are clean and unclean animals? Did early Christians avoid biblically-unclean animals? What are some of the health risks associated with eating pork, shellfish, and bats? Are pigs associated with the flu? Could bats have been involved related to the corona virus pandemic? Should humans consume blood? What are enzymes? Can raw foods aid in health? Is the typical US diet deadly? What about processed foods? Is eating refined sugar necessary? How were vitamins discovered? What about United States Pharmacopeia (USP) vs. food vitamins? Are most mineral supplements composed of processed rocks? What about genetically-modified organisms (GMOs)? What about sodas and other beverages? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters and more.

Here is a link to the sermon: Let’s Talk About Food.

Related to food, we also put out the following video:this sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:07:48

Evil is Affecting the Food Supply

God gave humans food and said what He made was good. What about unclean animals? What about genetically-modified organisms (GMOs)? What about ‘bioengineered foods’? What about lab meat? What about human-cloned salami? What about ‘Piggy Sooy’? Are Christians supposed to eat what is good according to Isaiah 55:2? What should we eat? What should Christians avoid eating? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters and more.

Here is a link to the following: Evil is Affecting the Food Supply.

Related to Christian health, we put out the following video:

1:20:07

Let’s Talk About Health

While the Bible focuses on the spiritual, it also has information on the physical. Does God want Christians to be in good health? What about the use of medications? What about supporting the immune system? Should Christians smoke or use marijuana? What about alcohol? Are there any risks from electromagnetic fields (EMF) or radiofrequency (RF) radiation? What about cellular telephones and 5G? Are Christians supposed to exercise? Can exercise improve brain function and reduce the risk of cognitive decline? Are we to avoid laziness and minimize junk foods? Does the Bible condemn obesity and gluttony? What can help with weight loss? Can you eat too much honey according to scripture? Are there health benefits to fasting? Should we rest on the Sabbath, honor our parents, avoid sexual immorality, and keep God’s commandments? What about prayer and health? Dr. Thiel discusses these matters and concludes by summarizing 26 matters for Christian health.

Here is a link to the sermon: Let’s Talk About Health.

Ingesting poisons, which are basically what pesticides are, does not support optimal health.

Try to avoid them and consider alternatives to school lunches if you can.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Christian Health Matters Should Christians be concerned about their health? Does the Bible give any food and health guidelines? Here are links to two related sermons: Let’s Talk About Food, Evil is Affecting the Food Supply, and Let’s Talk About Health.
GMOs and Bible Prophecy What are GMOs? Since they were not in the food supply until 1994, how could they possibly relate to Bible prophecy? Do GMOs put the USA and others at risk? Here are some related videos: GMO Risks and the Bible and GMOs, Lab meat, Hydrogenation: Safe or Dangerous?
Chimeras: Has Science Crossed the Line? What are chimeras? Has science crossed the line? Does the Bible give any clues? A video of related interest is Half human, half pig: What’s the difference? and Human-Monkey Embryos and Death.
Obesity, processed foods, health risks, and the Bible Does the Bible warn about the consequences of being obese? Is overeating dangerous? Is gluttony condemned? What diseases are associated with eating too much refined foods? A related video would be Eating Right, Eating Too Much, and Prophecy.
Should Christians Exercise? What does the Bible teach? What are some of the benefits and risks of exercise? Here is a link to a related video: The Plain Truth About Exercise.
Ten Simple Rules that Lead to Health Herbert Armstrong gives his opinions on this.
The New Testament Church, History, and Unclean Meats Are foods considered to have been unclean in the Old Testament considered to be food in the New Testament? This article discusses this from the perspective of the New Testament. It also has a list of clean and unclean animals. It also answers the question, is pork healthy or is pork dangerous? There is also a sermon-length video on this: Christians and Unclean Meats; a short video is also available: Did Jesus declare all animal flesh food?
The Bible, Christians, and the Environment How should Christians view the environment? Does the Bible give any clues? What are some of the effects of air, water, and land pollution? Is environmental pollution a factor in autism and death? Do pollutants seem to double the autism risk? What will Jesus do? Here is a link to a related sermon: Christians and the Environment (there is also a YouTube video available titled Air Pollution, Autism, and Prophecy, one titled Will Pollution lead to the End?, and one called COP 27 and Solving Climate Change).