Food Inc Post #2

After writing my research paper on pesticides, I chose to focus this blog on the chapter "Exposure to Pesticides", because I found this chapter to be really interesting but also shocking. I used several facts from this chapter to support some of my main points in my paper because I felt that the information provided within this chapter really showed the dangers of pesticide use. Among the most shocking statements made in this chapter that really stood out to me was that the FDA tested produce in grocery stores and more than half contained residues of pesticides and eight industry-leader baby foods contained 16 different pesticides, three of which were carcinogens. I found that very disturbing that baby foods contain cancer causing agents, and that they are even being used on food that will be consumed by children, when it is scientifically proven, that pesticides play a huge role in learning disabilities and developmental issues in young children. Also, I think its scary that when tested for OP's in blood samples, 95% of Americans tested positive for the OP's and those samples from children were twice as high as adults. The fact that OP's are linked to so many developmental issues really makes me wonder why they are still FDA approved and they they are still in half of the insecticides used. When there are alternatives such as organic farming being used currently that does not require the use of pesticides and has been scientifically proven to be dramatically healthier, why more farms are not converting over. Although it may be more costly to go organic, I feel like money put towards benefiting from healthy living is worth the price, and to have healthier kids would save money in medical bills and health care in the long run.