Articles by Sarah Reinhardt, MPH, RDN

5 healthier school lunches you can pack in minutes

Food companies sell a lot of pre-packaged lunches wrapped in bright colors, new flavors or other ways to get kids’ attention. In fact, the company behind Lunchables used some of the same research and...

Most fast food chains have concerning chemicals on the menu

When you’re trying to decide what to get at your favorite fast food spot, it can be hard to know exactly what you’re eating – including whether it’s made with potentially harmful ingredients. That’s...

Adding folic acid to food can save newborn babies. A misleading food 'safety' bill could block that

Food companies are pushing a bill in Congress, the FRESH Act , as a food safety measure. It isn’t. The bill, if enacted, would block state laws regulating chemicals in food, known as preemption. And...

‘The Great Reformulation’: How some grocery giants are cutting back on food chemicals

Many grocery stores are meeting consumer demand by taking food chemicals off their shelves. More than 70% of U.S. adults are concerned about chemicals in their food and water – and they deserve better...

We checked 12 fast food chains for ultra-processed ingredients. Only one had none

Fast food chains – think popular places like KFC, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut – can be quick and easy places to grab a meal. And many of us do. U.S. families get almost a third of their calories from...

4 ways the food industry fools your senses

Companies use a range of tricks to make your food taste more flavorful. Many of these tactics come straight from the tobacco industry playbook – and they’re so effective that some ultra-processed...

Dirty Dozen™ food chemicals: Aspartame

EWG’s recommendation Avoid or limit food and beverages containing aspartame. Aspartame has been classified as a possible carcinogen by the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency...

Dirty Dozen™ food chemicals: ADA

EWG’s recommendation Avoid or limit foods containing azodicarbonamide, or ADA. ADA breaks down during baking into several compounds, including semicarbazide, or SEM. Laboratory and animal studies...

Dirty Dozen™ food chemicals: Propyl gallate

EWG’s recommendation Avoid or limit foods containing propyl gallate. Propyl gallate is a preservative that has been linked to oxidative stress, which is when reactive molecules build up and damage...

Dirty Dozen™ food chemicals: BHT

EWG’s recommendation Avoid or limit foods containing BHT. BHT has not been formally classified as a carcinogen, but studies have linked it to tumor promotion in animals. BHT and its breakdown products...

What’s the difference between processed and ultra-processed foods?

Ultra-processed foods. Highly processed foods. Processed foods. All terms we’re hearing more often as research continues to link ultra-processed food, or UPF, to diseases like cancer, depression and...

Why factory farms are a major threat to food safety

Every week, federal investigators track between 17 and 36 foodborne illness outbreaks that can cause extreme sickness and even death. Industrial livestock farming, also known as factory farming, is a...

Dirty Dozen™ food chemicals: BHA

EWG’s recommendation Avoid or limit foods containing BHA. BHA has been classified as a possible carcinogen , or cancer-causing chemical. Studies have shown BHA to produce oxidative stress, which...

New research: It’s time to treat ultra-processed foods like tobacco

A special health journal issue on ultra-processed food, or UPF, calls for bold policy action to address the growing public health crisis – and that efforts focused solely on personal responsibility...

What to know about new ‘non-UPF’ certification labels

Update appended California is advancing a bill to help shoppers identify alternatives to ultraprocessed foods , or UPF, at the grocery store. If enacted, it would create a first-ever government-run...

3 ways the House farm bill threatens your health

The farm bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation most of us have never heard of – and Congress is negotiating it right now. This sweeping bill affects everyone, even those who have...

Protein is everywhere – it probably isn't making us healthier

Protein used to be the domain of bodybuilders and fitness fanatics. Now it’s everywhere: high-protein claims on Doritos chips , Dunkin’ Donuts lattes , breakfast toaster pastries and even pints of ice...

Food industry claims state chemical laws will spike grocery bills, but that doesn’t add up

In a page straight out of the industry playbook, a powerful group of U.S. food companies has funded a “study” claiming consumers will pay more if harmful chemicals are labeled or banned.

Your favorite brands might be in the fight against stricter food safety laws

More than a dozen states have enacted laws to protect consumers from harmful food chemicals and ultra-processed foods. Your favorite food brands may be tied up in efforts to erase them. A draft bill...

Dirty Dozen™ food chemicals: TBHQ

Avoid or limit foods containing the preservative TBHQ. Some animal studies have associated TBHQ with immune dysfunction, including potentially impairing the body’s ability to regulate inflammation and...