Catch up on the latest news and analysis from EWG’s team of experts.
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Dirty Dozen™ food chemicals: Potassium bromate
EWG’s recommendation Avoid or limit foods containing potassium bromate. Potassium bromate has been classified as a possible carcinogen by the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency, based...
New study: Neonic pesticides found in semen and urine, linked to lower sperm concentration
Neonicotinoid insecticides, notorious for their role in the collapse of bee populations , are turning up in human semen and may be linked to lower sperm count, a new peer-reviewed study finds...
Food was on the table. Now Congress should deliver.
Food was on the table during the election – and voters are hungry for change. While many issues mattered to voters, polling shows that food issues like rising food inflation, food safety and how food...
Dirty Dozen™ food chemicals: propyl paraben
EWG’s recommendation Avoid or limit foods containing propyl paraben. Propyl paraben is a synthetic preservative shown in studies to mimic the hormone estrogen, raising concerns about its potential to...
State food chemical laws don’t create chaos. They make food safer for everyone.
More than a dozen states have now passed laws restricting certain chemicals from food. Most apply to food served in schools, and a few may apply to food sold in stores. Companies have argued that...
Cutting ultra-processed foods may ease depression, new study finds
Cutting back on ultra-processed food, or UPF, may help improve symptoms of depression, according to a new study. UPF such as sugary drinks, salty snacks and frozen meals have already been shown to be...
Dirty Dozen™ food chemicals: Artificial dyes
EWG’s recommendation Avoid or limit foods containing artificial dyes. Human and animal studies suggest artificial food dyes may harm children’s behavior and brain development. Studies on laboratory...
Interactive map: Tracking state food chemical regulation in the U.S.
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.
Atrazine taints tap water for millions – California says it causes cancer. EPA’s plan won’t fix it.
Three recent developments underscore the health threat posed by atrazine, one of the most widely used herbicides in the U.S. Earlier this month, California’s environmental health agency said it...
Dirty Dozen™ food chemicals: Titanium dioxide
EWG’s recommendation Avoid or limit foods containing titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is a color additive used to brighten packaged foods. Food-grade titanium dioxide contains a large amount of...
Five problems with the FDA’s proposed food chemicals rule
A new EWG analysis finds a Food and Drug Administration proposed food chemicals rule update may represent more bark than bite – its “requirements” could be mandatory in name only, and worse, may...
Best bang for your buck: Halloween edition
Finding the perfect finishing touch for your Halloween costume can be tricky, especially when you have to worry about spooky ingredients hiding in makeup and personal care products. To make Halloween...
Ultra-processed food affects metabolism and brain activity, even with the same nutrients
It’s not just poor nutrition that links ultra-processed food to health harms, a new study finds. The body’s response is also determined by the amount of processing the food has gone through, which...
Study: Hundreds of chemicals linked to breast cancer in lab and animal studies in high use in the U.S.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosis among women and cases are on the rise . Anyone can get breast cancer – but it’s most common in women. A new peer-reviewed study looks at where...
Surging rates of high blood pressure in pregnancy – does chemical exposure play a role?
Rates of high blood pressure during pregnancy have risen sharply, up 73% between 2016 and 2024, according to a report from the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention. The 2026 report, finding the...
What California’s paraquat phaseout means for your state
When California regulators asked the pesticide industry for more information about the toxic chemical paraquat , the companies abandoned the state instead of providing the data. It’s a telling sign...
Big Tobacco made Lunchables to hook kids on highly processed food
Lunchables have been popular since the 1980s, giving kids a quick meal on the go. But most parents don’t know who had a hand in creating them and getting kids hooked: Big Tobacco. The make-your-own...
It’s all food safety delays at the FDA
The Food and Drug Administration has delayed a long list of food chemicals and food safety actions, both promised and legally required. In some cases, these actions have been overdue for more than 30...
Safer choices: What to know about eyelash serums
Growing demand for the “clean girl aesthetic” and lightweight, minimalist makeup, has influencers and everyday buyers reaching for eyelash serums. These lash serums range from prescription...
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...
