Articles by Iris Myers

To dye for: Chemical that makes sweet treats look irresistible linked to health risks

Synthetic food dyes that have been used for over a century to make snack cakes like Entenmann’s Little Bites Party Cake, and candies like Laffy Taffy and Brach’s Candy Corn, look brighter and more...

Turn over a new leaf: Ditch your salad's harmful chemicals with healthier dressings

Salad is the original health food, full of vitamins and nutrients and ideal for a healthier lifestyle. Just beware of dressings containing chemicals that could do more harm than good.

Serve up healthy mornings at home with EWG’s top organic cereal choices

Breakfast is, for many people, their most important meal. What you choose to eat first thing can set the tone for the rest of the day. Often we don’t have to time cook a big breakfast, let alone sit...

A slice of health problems: Frozen pizza chemicals linked to cancer, DNA and immune harms

Frozen pizza is a favorite of children and adults alike – and for good reason! It’s quick and easy to make, with enough varieties to satisfy almost any dietary preferences or restraints.

Bee-killing 'neonic' pesticides may also harm children’s health

Commonly referred to as neonics, neonicotinoids are insecticides frequently used as a seed-coating treatment for corn and soybeans and applied to a variety of fruits and vegetables. Their use in the U...

Unwanted guests: Avoid chemicals, bacteria and pesticides at your Memorial Day cookout

Memorial Day weekend, the gateway to summer, is almost here – pools are opening, and people are grilling, hosting barbecues and enjoying picnics. If you’re planning an event with tasty food, make sure...

This cancer-causing chemical may be lurking in your bread

Many packaged baked goods are made with flour that may contain potassium bromate, an additive linked to cancer. The chemical is added to flour to strengthen dough and allow it to rise higher, benefits...

Why does EWG release its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ each year?

With its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™, released almost every year since 2004, EWG’s goal is to educate the public about pesticides on popular fruits and vegetables so consumers can make...

Cereal offenders: potentially harmful ingredients in ‘healthy’ breakfast food

Many breakfast cereals claim to be a healthy way to start the day. Their boxes feature cute, colorful characters and catchy slogans that attract children, and their promise of a “complete” breakfast...

EWG’s 2021 gift guide

It’s hard enough to figure out the perfect gift for some people on your holiday shopping list. It can be more difficult when you factor in a desire to protect the health of your family and the...

EWG news roundup (12/3): The risks with green tea extract, meat’s math problem, healthier face masks and more

Last week, EWG published an analysis of epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, an extract of green tea that’s both added to food and used as a supplement. Though credited with several health benefits, it...

Keeping harmful food additives off your Thanksgiving table

Many of the foods commonly found on the Thanksgiving table contain two additives that can increase your risk of cancer and cause hormone disruption.

Frightening food: The scary additives lurking in Halloween candy

Halloween is just days away, when children will dress up as ghosts, zombies and other scary creatures while they trick-or-treat.

Common food additives in Cap’n Crunch and Apple Jacks cereal may harm human health

When you’re shopping for cereal, you might assume everything for sale has been regulated and proven safe to eat. But that’s not always true. In fact, popular brands, including Cap’n Crunch and Apple...

Thousands of children’s sweets STILL contain additive unsafe for human consumption

Skittles, Starburst and thousands of other sweet treats marketed to children contain titanium dioxide – an additive European food safety regulators say is no longer safe for human consumption. Yet the...

PFAS news roundup

July 30: Historic infrastructure bill includes ‘forever chemicals’ provisions, PFAS dischargers shirk EPA reporting and more

Utilities fighting to stymie growth of California rooftop solar power

Major utilities are waging war against ratepayers in California, urging the state’s power regulator to stunt the growth of customer-owner rooftop solar energy, even though equitable solutions to the...

PFAS news roundup

Four whistleblowers from the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention at the Environmental Protection Agency allege that the office tampered with dozens of assessments – including for new...

PFAS news roundup

Groups petition the EPA to ban ‘forever chemicals’ in food applications, bill introduced to limit PFAS water discharges, risks of PFAS exposure in children, and more.