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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.

Cereal – the top breakfast choice for kids – may be getting less healthy, according to a new study . It found a significant decrease in nutritional quality of cereals marketed to children that were...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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.

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.

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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