Nanotechnology – food and beyond

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Have you heard of nanotechnology?  It may be one of those buzz words that you have heard about in advertising or a technical program talking about advances in biology or consumer products.  We really hate to give you one more thing to worry about, but we need to put it out there and let you decide for yourself what you will do.

Nanotechnology first came to our attention when we  were researching our body care series.  We made a mental note to stay away from nanotechnology in food and body care products.  However, we recently stumbled across an article stating that nanotechnology is in a lot of other products including baby toys, clothing, furnishings, kitchen tools, etc.  You name it — there is probably a product you use that has some brand of it using nanotechnology.

What is Nanotechnology?

According to the Organic Consumers Association,

Nanotechnology and Synthetic Biology

‘Nanotechnology is the experimental process of manipulating matter at a scale of 1/100th the width of human hair, in order to create new products and materials. New consumer products with hidden nanotech ingredients hit the U.S. market in a nearly unregulated fashion each week, including baby toys, personal care products, clothes, and countless other products.  The nanoparticles in these products are so small, they leach through the skin and spread through the environment in unpredictable ways.’

Nanotechnology as well as synthetic biology (which are non-naturally occurring forms of nanotechnology – even worse IMO) are such small particulates that they are able to breach your skin and cells and wreck havoc on your body in ways that have not yet been identified.

What are the Potential Risks?

In body care products, we found that Titanium Dioxide can be harmful if it is in a nanotechnology form. (Read this article)  This is because TD is an inorganic compound (not living).  TD is used in all color mineral make-up and ‘natural’ skin care products.  It also acts as a ‘natural sunscreen’.  The beauty care product that we recommend (100% Pure) has  TD in it but DOES NOT use nanotechnology, so the TD sets on the skin and will not absorb into the body.  It is also found in lesser amounts than that of the rest of the body care industry – natural or otherwise.

Nanotechnology can be found in many products these days — not just body care and food. As listed above it can be found in toys, clothing, etc.  For the record, the clothing line that we affiliate with at Real Food Freaks (LUCY) does NOT use nanotechnology!!

Here is a list of reasons why we need to be careful of all products containing them:

1) May stop male sperm cell growth (read here).

2) Environmental impacts can be devastating (read here and here)

3) Lung complications (read here)

4) Pulmonary Fibrosis and Granuloma (read here)

5) Immunity Suppressors (read here)

6) Cancer similar to Mesothelioma (read here)

Want to know if your favorite brands or products use nanotechnology?  Here is a partial list compiled by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies. (Read here).  They are neither for nor against their use so remember that when you browse the site.

Nanotechnology is Unregulated

Currently, the United States has not regulated the use of nanotechnology in any product, including food (even organically labeled food), cosmetics, toys, etc.

Please consider joining the action alert to protect ‘organically labeled food from nanoparticle technology being used!

Not sure about you, but we are tired of being guinea pigs.  Just because it is technologically advanced, does not mean that it is good for us!  Often, we are unknowingly given products that have technology built in that can have devastating effects on our bodies and environment.

What Can You Do? A LOT . . .

1) Forward this to your friends and encourage them to sign the petition to Secretary Vilsak protecting organic food from nanotechnology.

2) Tweet this blog

3) Share on Facebook

4) Be sure to sign the petition yourself!

5) PLEASE STUMBLE this POST if you are a STUMBLER!

6) Ask your food producers, farmers, clothing makers, baby and children’s clothing makers if they use nanotechnology!  Encourage them to not to start OR to STOP.  And stop supporting brands that you know are using nanotechnology.  Boycotting with our wallets is the best way to combat this problem.  Without revenue they cannot stay in business.  This takes us back to this point: KNOW YOUR SUPPLIERS — BUY LOCAL and FROM SOMEONE YOU KNOW EVEN IF IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE!  In other words — buy less but higher quality.
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