Testing carried out by ABC News has revealed that the school lunches served to children in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland contain shocking amounts of toxic heavy metals such as lead, along with dozens of pesticides.
The testing was carried out by the accredited independent lab The Health Research Institute, whose chief scientist and CEO, John Fagan, called the findings “pretty shocking.” Some of the foods tested by the lab included potatoes, fruit, pizza and breadsticks.
The presence of heavy metals in children's food is highly concerning as exposure can lead to irreversible damage. One of the most dangerous heavy metals is lead, and it was found in 100 percent of the samples. Lead at any level is known to cause reduced IQ and behavioral and attention issues in children. It can also damage the brain and central nervous system.
Some of the food samples tested also contained the heavy metal cadmium, with levels at more than 12 times the limit established by the FDA for bottled water. This metal can increase the risk of lung cancer. Another heavy metal, arsenic, was found in rice at six times the permissible level for foods like apple juice.
A total of 49 pesticides were identified across the school lunches tested, and one single elementary school lunch contained 38 different pesticides. In just one cup of strawberries, 23 pesticides were found.
Fungicides and pesticides found in children's meals
Some of the dangerous chemicals that were found included carbendazim. This fungicide has already been outlawed in many European countries, along with places like Australia and Brazil, due to its ability to cause endocrine disruption and infertility.
Not surprisingly, many of the wheat-based items that were served to school children contained the weedkiller glyphosate, which is the subject of numerous lawsuits related to cancer and is also known for disrupting immune function and other health effects. They also found other toxic weedkillers, such as Dicamba and 2,4D.
Children are especially vulnerable
ABC News reached out George Mason University School of Public Health Dean Dr. Melissa Perry to analyze the results. The pesticide expert blamed regulators for the situation, stating: “50 pesticides in school lunches, it’s not okay. It demonstrates that our regulatory system is not succeeding in ensuring that the food that children eat are free from chemical burden.”
Dr. Perry pointed out that even when foods do fall within the limits on pesticide residues established by regulators, that does not mean they are safe. Some limits are outdated, and children are especially vulnerable to their effects given the fact that their brains and bodies are still developing.
She added: “The variety and the volume of chemicals that are being introduced in the market every year makes it practically impossible to evaluate the health effects of each and every chemical. We don’t know what it means to be exposed over time at low levels continuously, especially for developing children.”
Another big unknown is what can happen when children are exposed to multiple pesticides at once, as is the case with those who are consuming the school lunches tested and those at many other schools throughout the nation.
Senator Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) recently introduced the Safe School Meals Act, whose goal is to keep toxins out of the nation’s school lunches. It would introduce limits on the heavy metals found in foods, along with reassessing food additives for safety and banning food containing certain pesticide residues. It also takes aim at the packaging of school meals, banning PFAS, bisphenols and phthalates to protect children’s health.
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