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GUEST: Ian Illuminato, Health and Environment Campaigner with Friends of the Earth, co-author of the report, “Out of the Laboratory and on to our Plates”

A new report by Friends of the Earth has found that so-called nanomaterials are being used in popular food products and food packaging, without any warning to the public or new testing by the Food and Drug Administration. Materials made using nano-technology can include more potent food colorings, flavorings and nutritional additives, antibacterial ingredients for food packaging, and more potent agrochemicals and fertilizers. Preliminary studies have shown that nano-materials are much more chemically reactive than larger particles and can potentially wreak havoc when ingested. Neither the US Food and Drug Administration, nor the Environmental Protection Agency have recognized nanomaterials to be new chemicals or have required any new oversight of them. The report by Friends of the Earth, called “Out of the Laboratory and On To Our Plates,” asserts that this technology can potentially cause organ damage and a decreased immune system response. FOE found nanomaterials in Miller Light beer, Cadbury chocolate packaging, and ToddlerHealth, a nutritional drink powder for infants sold at Whole Foods and other health food stores.

Learn more about nano-technology in your food here: http://action.foe.org/content.jsp?content_KEY=3965