Leading Twin Cities Hospital Makes Healthy Food Pledge

Hennepin County Medical Center is the first public teaching hospital in the country to sign the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge. The pledge is a voluntary program for food purchasing of Health Care Without Harm (IATP is a founding member).

• Leading Twin Cities Hospital Joins Others in Supporting Healthy, Sustainable Food  Press release | Mar 17  | PDF
• HCMC Signs Healthy Food Pledge, Commits to Sourcing More Produce from Local Farms  Press release | Mar 17
• Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge 

Minnesota First State in U.S. to Restrict Use of BPA

Minnesota became the first state in the nation to ban the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles and "sippy" cups after Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) signed the legislation into law.

• Read the press release  Press release | May 8  | PDF
• Watch Almanac interview with IATP's Kathleen Schuler 

AMA Passes Sustainable Food System Resolution

Food and Health Program Director Dr. David Wallinga was at the American Medical Association (AMA) meeting in mid-June where th body approved a new policy resolution in support of practices and policies within health care systems that promote and model a healthy and ecologically sustainable food system.

• Read the Health Care Without Harm Press Release  Health Care Without Harm  | PDF
• Read the AMA Press Release  American Medical Association
• Read the recommendation from the Council on Science and Public Health  American Medical Association

Bill to Remove Mercury From HFCS

Congress is considering a bill that would phase out the use of mercury in caustic soda production. Call your representative today to sponsor and/or support this legislation. IATP's David Wallinga, M.D., co-authored two papers earlier this year that examined the link between mercury, caustic soda and high fructose corn syrup.

• Hearing on mercury bill 
• Not so Sweet: Missing Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup  Report | Jan 26  | PDF
• View a list of co-sponsors, and bill text  Govtrack.us
• Find your representative  House.gov
• Environmental Health 

New Science

Find cutting-edge science that informs how better to think about the interconnectedness of food systems and health.

• Assessment of human exposure to Bisphenol-A, Triclosan and Tetrabromobisphenol-A through indoor dust intake in Belgium.  Chemosphere
• Neonatal Bisphenol-A Exposure Alters Rat Reproductive Development and Ovarian Morphology Without Impairing Activation of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Neurons   Biology of Reproduction
• Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement  The Endocrine Society
• Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) during different critical windows in pregnancy alters mammary epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation  Toxicological Sciences
• Managing the health effects of climate change  The Lancet
• Melamine in Infant Formula Sold in Canada: Occurrence and Risk Assessment  Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Report: HFCS Contaminated With Mercury

Two new papers look at the presence of mercury in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). An article in Environmental Health finds mercury in commercial HFCS. An IATP study finds mercury in common foods and beverages.

• Not So Sweet: Missing Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup  Report | Jan 26  | PDF
• Much High Fructose Corn Syrup Contaminated With Mercury, New Study Finds  Press release | Jan 26  | PDF
• Environmental Health article 
• Table A: Total mercury detected in 55 brand-name foods and beverages high in HFCS.  PDF
• Frequently Asked Questions  Fact sheet | Feb 3  | PDF
• Interview with Dr. David Wallinga, M.D., author of Not So Sweet: Missing Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup 

Avoiding Food Dyes

Many candies and other processed foods contain synthetic food dyes linked to increased hyperactivity in children. Two new consumer tools from IATP help you avoid foods with synthetic food dyes.

• Brain Food Selector 
• Smart Guide to Food Dyes  Fact sheet | Feb 12  | PDF
• Have a Happier Valentine's Day  Press release | Feb 12  | PDF

Free Online Course on Pediatric Environmental Health

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is offering health professionals a free training module on children’s environmental health, based on the Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. IATP’s Dr. David Wallinga and Kathleen Schuler, MPH helped created the Toolkit, and trained health professionals in its use in Minnesota and throughout the country.

• Visit the Web site for the online course 

Tackling the Toxic Table

IATP's David Wallinga, M.D. offers ten ways you can support a healthier global food system.

• Tackling the Toxic Table in a Global Economy  Commentary | Nov 18  | PDF

Healthy Food Access in Minneapolis

Many people in Minneapolis lack access to healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate foods. A new IATP paper summarizes a series of roundtable discussions with Minneapolis community members on access to healthy food.

• Healthy Food Access in Minneapolis: Initial Conversations with Residents  Report | Jan 9  | PDF

Pete Myers on Environmental Chemicals and Public Health

Dr. John Peterson Myers, CEO of Environmental Health Sciences and co-author of Our Stolen Future, discusses environmental chemicals and public health.

• Pete Myers interview 

Why We Need Green Chemistry

The Green Chemistry revolution is making safer products and protecting human health and the environment. Two new fact sheets by IATP and colleagues explain why Green Chemistry is needed and what you can do to support it.

• Why We Need Green Chemistry  PDF
• Why Promote Green Chemistry?  PDF

A World of Possibilities: Green Purchasing

As more institutions switch to green purchasing, how are hospitals keeping up? IATP's David Wallinga, M.D., discusses healthy hospitals, local food and more on a radio segment featuring experts on green purchasing.

• Listen to David Wallinga's portion of the panel  
• Listen to the entire Green Purchasing panel 

Antibiotics in Peril

Excessive use of antibiotics for food animals is linked with increasing antibiotic resistant bacteria in humans. New research finds that livestock operations may be driving a new type of superbug, writes IATP's David Wallinga and the Union of Concerned Scientists' Margaret Mellon.

• Penicillin in Peril  Commentary | Jul 10
• Keep Antibiotics Working 

Hospitals Supporting Healthy Food

A new report by Healthcare Without Harm (HCWH) finds that hospitals around the country are shifting their food buying practices toward sustainable, locally produced food. IATP is a member of HCWH and IATP's Marie Kulick is the coalition's purchasing coordinator.

• Healthy Food in Healthcare Pledge Report  Report | May 29  | PDF
• Report Outlines Leading Trend in Healthcare Sector  Press release | May 29  | PDF

Parkinson's and Pesticides

A new IATP fact sheet looks at environmental risk factors, including certain pesticides, for Parkinson's disease.

• Parkinson's, Pesticides and Other Environmental Causes  Fact sheet | Apr 22  | PDF

Arsenic Widespread in Top Chicken Brands

Arsenic widely contaminates brand-name chicken products sold in U.S. supermarkets and fast food restaurants, independent test results released by IATP show. Consumers can eliminate their arsenic intake by making smarter choices.

• Playing Chicken  Report  | PDF