RE: Perchlorate in Lettuce [s]

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

 

Thanks for sharing this great information! In general, all environmental

contaminants circulate freely in the world's ecosystem and eventually show

up everywhere. It is true that the media focus follows the research focus.

It is ALSO true that, if the FDA has a bias and wishes to show that organic

is " no better, " then all they have to do is select lettuce from areas with

high air traffic. And ultimately, since the wind circulates everywhere, it

may not matter.

 

From my perspective, our best choices are to know our farmers, eat

alkalizing foods, and live a healthy lifestyle. In particular, studies and

casual observations have repeatedly shown that those who are aerobically

active seem to eliminate a broad range of environmental toxins better than

those who are not. So let's each create a great program for ourselves...eat

well, sleep well, get plenty of sunshine and fresh air. Within 1-2 hours

following physical activity, eat fruit (previous post). Engage in physical

activity before eating any major meal. And so forth.

 

Or volunteer for the Mars colony team ....

Elchanan

 

 

 

Kimberly Dawkins [kim.dawkins]

Saturday, March 19, 2005 6:10 AM

rawfood

Re: [Raw Food] Perchlorate in Lettuce

 

 

When I first read this, the question of how we know organic lettuce is

free of perchlorate entered my mind. Afterall, perchlorate

contamination is found in soil, ground water and drinking water

supplies in more locations than the Colorado River basin (though that

appears to be the largest area of contamination in the U.S.)

 

Anyway, I looked around a bit on the web and found some information

that indicates some organic lettuce is just as contaminated as

conventionally grown. At least in the list of lettuce samples tested

by the FDA last year, the ones listed as organic had as much and

sometimes more perchlorate contamination as non-organic:

 

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/clo4data.html

 

Also, fyi, here are tables I found listing locations of perchlorate

contamination in drinking water, ground water and soil across the

country:

 

http://www.ewg.org/reports/rocketwater/table3.php

 

http://www.ewg.org/reports/rocketwater/table4.php

 

Lastly, the reason lettuce (and milk) have been the focus of media

attention concerning perchlorate contamination is because that is where

the FDA has focused it's testing. The testing continues and makes one

wonder what other produce will be found contaminated as well. Will we

ever stop poisoning our planet and ourselves?

 

Kim, feeling rather depressed this morning over being the bearer of bad

news

 

 

On Mar 14, 2005, at 10:41 AM, INFO @ Vibrant Life wrote:

>

> 1. Whether or not you are buying organic products in general (yet?),

> PLEASE

> buy only organic lettuce. Almost 100% of the US lettuce supply is

> known to

> be severely contaminated with perchlorate. Perchlorate is a byproduct

> of

> burning jet and rocket fuel. For years, the air force has been

> dropping this

> chemical (supposedly unknowingly, until recently) throughout the

> Colorado

> river basin where almost all the nation's nonorganic lettuce is

> grown. Both

> the plants and the underlying soil are contaminated.

>

> This chemical is deadly, there is presently no known way to break it

> down.

> The EPA released a report on this in 2004, so this is fairly recent

> information in terms of government reporting. (Known for a long time

> in some

> circles, but now it's " official. " )