Research

Chlormequat

EWG investigation: Dangerous agricultural chemical chlormequat found in popular oat-based products

A new EWG investigation finds for the first time troubling concentrations of the toxic agricultural chemical chlormequat in oat-based products sold in the U.S., including everyday brands marketed to...

January 31, 2023

All Research

Displaying 1 - 24 of 47

Food

EWG evaluation of food chemicals: BHT

June 22, 2026

Global health and regulatory agencies Abstract for TR-150. (June, 17, 2025). National Toxicology Program. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/publications/reports/tr/tr150 WHO, JECFA (n.d.) https://apps.who.int...

Food

EWG evaluation of food chemicals: BHA

June 5, 2026

EWG’s recommendation

BHA is an ingredient of concern. EWG suggests limiting consumption of foods with this ingredient.

The National Toxicology Program in 1991 classified BHA as “reasonably anticipated...

Food

EWG evaluation of food chemicals: Sucralose

April 15, 2026

Sucralose is an ingredient of concern. EWG suggests avoiding or limiting consumption of products with this ingredient or using sucralose as a sugar substitute. This recommendation is specific to...

Food

EWG evaluation of food chemicals: TBHQ

April 15, 2026

TBHQ is an ingredient of concern, and EWG suggests limiting consumption of foods containing this ingredient.

Food

Secret GRAS: How 100+ food chemicals bypassed government safety review

March 3, 2026

Thousands of everyday food products potentially could contain substances that carry unknown health risks, a new EWG analysis finds.

Although Congress intended for most food chemicals to be rigorously...

Food

Nanomaterials

The invisible threat: EWG analysis shows you could be eating as many as 12 plastic bags a year

September 18, 2024

Next time you buy groceries, look at your shopping bag and imagine eating up to 12 a year – that’s how much invisible plastic pollution EWG estimates an adult could be consuming.

This report details...

Food

Water

PFAS Chemicals

Prioritizing PFAS: The next government-wide plan to tackle ‘forever chemicals’

August 15, 2024

The contamination crisis from the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS is far from over, despite the Biden-Harris administration’s strides implementing its government-wide plan to combat PFAS pollution...

Food

Pesticides still found in baby food, but biggest toxic threats eliminated

November 15, 2023

Your baby’s food may contain potentially harmful pesticides – but the Environmental Working Group’s decades of fighting to protect children’s health have helped eliminate the most toxic threats from...

Food

Meat and Dairy Alternatives

Chlormequat

EWG investigation: Dangerous agricultural chemical chlormequat found in popular oat-based products

January 31, 2023

Climate & Agriculture

Food

The health benefits of a whole foods, plant-forward diet

December 1, 2022

A plant-forward diet – loosely defined as a diet that is rich in plant foods but that can also include eggs, dairy foods, and occasionally lean meat, poultry and seafood – is becoming more widely...

Food

Fruit leather: A snack sometimes chock full of pesticides and sugar

September 15, 2022

When parents and caregivers herd kids out the door for an outing, they typically grab snack food on the way. And one of the most convenient is a product kids love – fruit leather.

Food

Food Additives State of the Science

September 16, 2020

A new EWG guide brings attention to food additives, commonly found in many processed foods, that can increase the risk of cancer, harm the nervous system, change the body's hormonal balance and affect...

Food

Organic: The Original Clean Food

March 5, 2019

Americans are increasingly seeking “clean” foods that are free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. But although consumers who want to avoid toxic pesticides and antibiotics know to look...

Food

Decoding Meat and Dairy Product Labels

June 29, 2018

Most animals raised for meat, milk and eggs are on industrial farms that contaminate our air, soil and water. These farms rely heavily on antibiotics and other synthetic treatments to boost outputs...

Food

Supermarket Meat Still Superbugged, Federal Data Show

June 28, 2018

EWG’s most recent analysis of more than 47,000 federal government lab ...

BPA

Food

BPA Bombshell

June 17, 2016

Exposure to BPA has been linked to cancer, infertility, brain, nervous system and cardiovascular abnormalities, diabetes, obesity and other serious disorders.

Mercury

Food

Mercury in Seafood

March 16, 2016

In 2014, federal agencies issued draft recommendations that women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or might become pregnant and young children eat more fish that is lower in mercury. Their advice is...

Food

Food Lobby Spends $101 Million in 2015 to Avert GMO Labeling

February 25, 2016

Big food and biotechnology companies and trade associations seeking to block labeling of food with genetically modified organisms through a rider in the end-of-the year federal spending bill have...

Food

Big Food Companies Spend Millions to Defeat GMO Labeling

August 4, 2015

Big food and biotechnology companies and trade associations have reported spending $51.6 million over the first half of this year, some or all of which went to lobby for legislation that would block...

BPA

Cookware & Food Containers

Food

BPA in Canned Food

June 3, 2015

You may know that bisphenol A, a synthetic estrogen found in the epoxy coatings of food cans, has been linked to many health problems. Many companies have publicly pledged to stop using BPA in their...

Food

Hidden In Plain Sight

May 22, 2015

A new EWG analysis estimates that at least 27 percent of more than 84,000 foods in EWG's interactive Food Scores database, contain artificial trans fat, a manmade, artery-clogging, industrially...

Food

Corporate spending to fight GMO labeling skyrockets

April 23, 2015

Food and biotechnology companies opposed to mandatory labeling of foods that contain genetically modified food ingredients have disclosed expenditures of $63.6 million in 2014 to lobby for legislation...

Food

Feeding the world

March 31, 2015

Growing food takes a major toll on the environment, one that will grow worse in the coming decades as humanity faces the challenge of feeding a burgeoning population.

Midwest

Farm Subsidies

Conservation

Food

Debunking the Myth that GE Crops Reduce Soil Loss

October 9, 2014

Defenders of genetically engineered crops regularly claim that these varieties cut erosion by encouraging farmers to use tillage practices that enhance soil conservation.

Expert Spotlight

Chemical companies provide quarterly reports on production and sales figures to shareholders. Why shouldn’t the public and EPA receive similar reports every year about commonly used chemicals, some of which could pose a serious health risk?”

David Andrews, Ph.D.

Chief Science Officer

All Experts

News & Insights

Food

Safe food depends on the states

July 20, 2026

The recent outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a food-borne illness, has shown we can’t count on the federal government to make sure our food is safe.

States have always played a central role in the safety of...

Map of the United States with states highlighted in green.

Food

California

Interactive map: Tracking state food chemical regulation in the U.S.

July 20, 2026

Thousands of chemicals are allowed for use in food sold in this country. And while most of these are likely safe to eat, some have been linked to serious health harms.

Farm Subsidies

‘Triple dipping’ taxpayer dollars: Trump eyes billions more in subsidies for wealthy farms

July 16, 2026

The Trump administration is asking Congress to send another $11 billion to farmers through taxpayer-funded farm subsidies, even though many would-be recipients are wealthy farms that already receive...

Pregnant woman in white dress typing on a laptop

Women's Health