Sci-fi tech is already in your kitchen, and it’s nanotechnology. In this episode, we dive into the dark side of materials measured at a billionth of a meter, which, as environmental lawyer George Kimbrell of the Center for Food Safety explains, are fundamentally different than their larger counterparts. These tiny engineered particles, though not yet directly in most food (that we know of), are extensively used in food packaging for their enhanced antimicrobial effects—like nanosilver—to help food last longer. Kimbrell warns that this unprecedented size gives nanoparticles terrifying properties: unprecedented mobility (they can pass the blood-brain barrier) and increased intrinsic toxicity due to their vast surface area, posing unknown risks to both human health and the environment once they leach out of packaging. The core issue is the lack of transparency: in the U.S., unlike Europe, there is no system requiring manufacturers to prove a novel substance's safety before it hits the market, nor is there mandatory, on-package text labeling for these nanomaterials, forcing consumer advocates to fight against efforts to hide crucial information behind inaccessible QR codes. Kimbrell urges listeners to support on-package labeling and consider buying USDA certified organic products, as organic standards prohibit nanomaterials, offering a shield against these invisible risks and empowering consumers with the right to know what they're truly eating.

Check out the Center for Food Safety: www.centerforfoodsafety.org

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