Food and health

Childcare: Fertile ground for healthy young eaters

When a four year old in our project was asked recently where carrots come from, he pretty well nailed it: “The ground, and farmers water them and pick them and give them to people and bunnies too, and stores.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. 

WEBINAR: Recent AAP Policy Statements on Organic Food and Pesticides

Intended Audience: Pediatricians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Office Managers, Office Staff

WEBINAR: The A to Z on Atrazine: Sex hormones and America's most popular pesticide

Despite being banned in Europe due to health risks, atrazine, a hormone-disrupting herbicide, is one of the world's most largely used pesticides—hundreds of millions of pounds per year. It can be found in our lakes, streams, rain, and drinking water, at levels that make a difference to human health.

In getting to the heart of our unhealthy food system, health professionals are key (and not in the way you may think)

It seems every week, mainstream media is reporting on a new study pointing to food A, or beverage B, as the latest malign of the American eater. The truth is, the rising obesity rates in the U.S., and the frightening rate of decline in children’s health in our country are complicated.

Nine state meetings bring health and agriculture sectors together for food system change

How could the landscape of food and farming policy change if health sector workers and consumers understood what it takes for farmers to grow and produce enough healthy food?

Dr. Martha Herbert on autism, diet and the environment

Autism is a developmental disorder that impairs communication and social interaction. It is a whole body disorder, with immune system difficulties and often includes physical health problems such as gut disturbance, allergies, and seizures.  One in 88 children is now diagnosed with autism in the U.S., compared with 1 in 150 in 2000. 

Food, toxics and ADHD: Old fears, ever stronger science

A Harvard study just published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine journal, associates a mother's low level exposure to mercury while pregnant with greater risk of her child later developing ADHD-related behavior.

Money, politics and food

It didn’t make headlines, but Tuesday was the start of an important movement to reform our food and agriculture system by restoring our democracy.

Big chemical companies + big bucks = Putting the brakes on chemical regulation

According to a new report from Common Cause, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) reported spending $2.8 million on political advertising so far in the 2011-12 election cycle. Scores of candidates “fighting for jobs” and “cutting government regulation” were funded by the ACC.