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Areas of Focus

Areas of Focus

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Not so g-r-r-reat: How food ads shape the diets of children and teens

Before most kids can spell “nutrition,” they’ve already seen thousands of advertisements for candy-colored cereal, salty snacks and sugary soda. According to a 2024 study , children between the ages...

Is chewing gum releasing microplastics in your mouth?

Chewing gum is a favorite of high school kids and overworked professionals alike – but just one piece can shed thousands of potentially harmful microplastics into your saliva, one study suggests.

What is propyl gallate?

Propyl gallate is a preservative used in foods like chewing gum, meat products, vegetable oil and more. It helps prevent fat and oil from spoiling and is frequently used together with the food...

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.

The fight for food reform

For decades, potentially harmful chemicals have been allowed for use in our food, often without proper oversight. EWG has long been working to change that. We’ve joined forces with the Center for...

Beware of the chemical BVO in fruit-flavored drinks

Carbonated orange drinks and fruit-flavored energy drinks contain an ingredient that isn’t in your morning OJ: brominated vegetable oil, or BVO, a chemical that can harm the nervous system.

What is propyl paraben?

How do some cosmetics, medicine and foods, like cinnamon rolls, tortillas and trail mix, last so long on store shelves? They get their longevity thanks to propyl paraben, a preservative that also...

No dyes, no problem: Your favorite snacks will still taste the same without synthetic colors

Processed food and drinks often use artificial dye to boost their appeal, especially if they’re marketed to children and teens. But these colorants have a range of health risks, so some states are...

14 food chemical actions RFK Jr. can take to ‘Make America Healthy Again’

The food we eat should be nourishing and safe. But thousands of chemicals, some of which may be toxic, are allowed in a wide range of products, such as snacks, bread and more.

Today’s special sandwich ingredient: A chemical foaming agent

If you’ve used a yoga mat, taken a phone out of protective padding, or lined an attic with foam insulation, you may have encountered the industrial chemical azodicarbonamide, or ADA.

What is GRAS?

Food and chemical companies are permitted to approve the use of new potentially harmful additives and other substances in snacks, drinks and more without the Food and Drug Administration’s review and...

What are ultra-processed foods?

Most of the foods and drinks the average American consumes may be making them sick.

A baker’s dozen of food chemicals the FDA should ban next

It’s good news the Food and Drug Administration has decided to ban Red Dye No. 3 from being used in food, as it announced today. But that’s just the start – many other toxic chemicals can still be...

How states and the EPA acted to ban the brain-damaging pesticide chlorpyrifos

Chlorpyrifos is the most widely used organophosphate pesticide in the U.S., with millions of pounds sprayed every year. Scientists have definitively linked it to severe brain damage in children and...

Revealing the risks of synthetic dyes and titanium dioxide in holiday treats

The holiday season is when many indulge in seasonal treats, with peppermint-flavored candy, frosted cookies and brightly colored confections filling our tables and stomachs. But behind the festive...

Unwrapping the mystery behind peppermint-flavored treats

With the holiday season fast approaching, peppermint treats take center stage. From candy canes to lattes, this refreshing flavor seems to be everywhere. But while the aroma and taste of peppermint...

Unmasking the ingredients in fall’s favorite flavor: pumpkin spice

Pumpkin spice season is officially here. As soon as the temperature drops and the first leaves start to change color, everything edible from lattes to muffins, cheeses and ice cream takes on this warm...

What’s in your coffee creamer – and is it healthy?

For many people, coffee can be part of a healthy diet – but what you add to it can change that.

What are methylene chloride, trichloroethylene and ethylene dichloride?

Methylene chloride, trichloroethylene and ethylene dichloride are chemical solvents used in industrial processes such as food production, to extract specific components or concentrate flavors.

What are sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate?

Sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate are chemicals added by manufacturers to processed or cured meat products, like deli meats, hot dogs, jerky, sausages and bacon.

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