(The Defender)—A chemical used in rocket fuel and linked to serious health issues is also present in drinking water and many food products — with the highest levels found in foods commonly eaten by babies and children, according to a Consumer Reports investigation published Wednesday.
Perchlorate is a natural and human-made chemical that’s mostly used in the U.S. as a highly water-soluble salt component for rocket fuel and missiles. It’s also used in the production of other explosives, matches, batteries and plastics.
Perchlorate gets into food through contaminated groundwater used to irrigate crops or make processed foods. It’s also transferred to food from plastic food storage containers and old bleach — which can break down into perchlorate — used at food and water processing facilities.
The chemical is known to cause thyroid issues, which increases risk for metabolic disorders, and disruption of the brain and nervous system development in infants.
Federal regulators responsible for food and water safety have for decades been aware of water and soil contamination at locations where perchlorate has been stored, used or manufactured, according to the report, but haven’t taken the steps necessary to protect public health.
About 67% of the samples had ‘measurable’ levels of perchlorate
To assess perchlorate contamination in commonly eaten foods, researchers from Consumer Reports tested 196 samples of 73 grocery store foods and fast food items and their packaging.
About 67% of the samples had “measurable” levels of perchlorate. Overall, foods consumed by babies and children, along with fast food and fresh fruits and vegetables had the highest levels. In terms of packaging, foods in plastic containers had the highest levels, followed by foods in plastic wrap and paperboard.
None of the foods contained dangerous levels of perchlorate. However, the report said, that several servings of many of the foods in a day could add up to hazardous levels.
Also, because the chemical is present in so many foods, exposure over time can be dangerous — especially for pregnant women and children.
The researchers didn’t name the brands investigated. However, they did contact the manufacturers of the contaminated foods, none of whom responded.
James E. Rogers, Ph.D., director of product safety testing at Consumer Reports said, “Regulators should do more to protect the public from contaminants like perchlorate, but at the same time, parents shouldn’t panic about what we found.”
“Feeding your children a wide variety of healthy foods is the best way to make sure they get the nutrients they need and to minimize the potentially harmful effects of contaminants in food and water,” Rogers said.
Key questions answered by the report:
1. How much perchlorate is safe?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2005 set a “reference dose” or safe exposure level for perchlorate at 0.7 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day.
However, according to the European Food Safety Authority, perchlorate is safe at only 0.3 micrograms per kilogram of body weight — less than half the level determined safe by the EPA. Many food safety experts think the EPA’s level is too high, according to Consumer Reports.
Children are particularly at risk, even when the amount of perchlorate in food or water is relatively low because they are small and have lower body weight.
The researchers found perchlorate levels in food ranged from about 2 parts per billion to 79 parts per billion, and food in plastic containers averaged about 54 parts per billion.
The report gave some examples of what those numbers could mean. For a child between the ages of 1 and 2, they found that the boxed mac and cheese they tested would give the child 50% of the European Food Safety limit for perchlorate in a day.
The rice cereal, baby multigrain cereal and organic yogurt they tested each would give a child about 25% of the limit and a serving of cucumbers or baby carrots would provide over 50% of the limit, presumably because it had been irrigated with contaminated water.
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2. What are the health risks?
According to the EPA, perchlorate toxicity in humans primarily targets the thyroid gland, which plays an important role in regulating metabolism and is key for normal growth and development in infants and children.
Perchlorate is a known endocrine disruptor that can interfere with the thyroid’s ability to absorb iodide, which the body needs to make thyroid hormones.
In adults, this could lead to hypothyroidism and related issues. But for children, the report said, “Thyroid hormones are critical for brain growth and development, and any disruption to that has the potential for lifelong effects.”
According to the report, research has shown that women with thyroid dysfunction who have higher perchlorate exposures during pregnancy have children who are three times as likely to show negative cognitive effects, including lowered IQ.
3. Why isn’t perchlorate regulated?
Because it is so difficult for consumers to avoid perchlorate, Consumer Reports said it is important for regulators to act — but the EPA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) haven’t done much to protect public health, despite knowing about the problem since 1985.
At that time, perchlorate contamination was identified in wells near California Superfund sites — remnants of weapons testing by the U.S. Department of Defense — according to a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Despite several public controversies over perchlorate, the FDA in 2005 permitted companies to use the chemical in food-contact materials. Within a few years, high levels of the chemical were detected in baby food that uses the packaging, the report said.
In 2019, the FDA for the third time denied a petition by food and environmental advocacy groups to ban the chemical from food packaging.
In 2011, the EPA concluded that between 5.2 and 16.6 million people could be exposed to contaminated water, yet the agency continually delayed plans to set perchlorate limits in drinking water. In 2020, the EPA argued that the chemical didn’t need to be regulated at all, because state and local governments were doing so.
After the Natural Resources Defense Council challenged that decision in a lawsuit, a court ordered the EPA to regulate the chemical. The agency said it will propose new drinking water limits by Nov. 21, 2025.
The EPA should also reconsider its recommended safe level, experts said, and the agency needs to set maximum contaminant levels for perchlorate in water, following the leads of states like Massachusetts, where the limit is 2 parts per billion and California, where it is 6 parts per billion, but with a stated goal to lower it.
Tom Neltner, a chemical engineer and attorney who is the national director for the nonprofit group Unleaded Kids, told Consumer Reports the FDA should revoke permission to use perchlorate in food contact materials.
The report also said the FDA could set a limit for perchlorate in food considering the unique health effects on kids.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.