Unsafe at Any Meal: What the FDA Does Not Want You to Know About the Foods You Eat

by Dr. Renee Joy Dufault

Overview

Each year, Americans consume hundreds of food products that contain truly dangerous compounds, including heavy metals, pesticides, and other harmful additives—with the blessing of the FDA. Why is this happening and why haven’t you heard about it? In Unsafe at Any Meal, Dr. Renee Dufault, former food investigator for the Food and Drug Administration, provides the startling answers. While at the FDA, Dr. Dufault discovered that mercury—a highly toxic metal—was contaminating the plumbing systems of many food manufacturing plants. Upon further examination, she discovered that the same mercury was also evident in a number of processed foods commonly sold in supermarkets. When Dr. Dufault revealed these disturbing findings to her superiors, she was told to stop her investigation. Her continued efforts to raise the issue always met with a dead end, so she chose to take an early retirement from the FDA. Dr. Dufault then devoted her energy to making the public aware of the insidious dangers that contaminate our food. In 2010, she founded an organization of scientists to study the scope of this problem and has published numerous research articles on the topic with little fanfare. To expose what still seems to be a well-kept secret by the FDA, she has written Unsafe at Any Meal to provide consumers with the information they need to know.

The book begins with the author’s story leading up to the creation of this work. It then describes the various toxic substances that are most commonly found in our food supply, and explains how they affect your genes, health, and the surrounding environment. After examining the Standard American Diet, which is sorely lacking in disease-preventing nutrients, it discusses the country’s trend toward consuming a skyrocketing amount of ingredients that can contain heavy metals. It further shows how exposure to these heavy metals can contribute to conditions such as ADHD or autism. Also included is a helpful guide to reading food labels, recognizing misleading marketing tactics, and knowing what to look for—and what to look out for—in the aisles of your grocery store.

Over fifty years ago, Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring exposed the dangers of DDT in our food supply. Unfortunately, it seems that the problem of food contamination has actually become worse. Backed by research and first-hand experience, Dr. Dufault reveals how the FDA has failed us, and outlines how you can protect yourself and your family by knowing what to avoid and by filling your kitchen with food that is clear of toxins.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780757004360
Publisher:	Square One Publishers
Publication date:	05/01/2017
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	321,646
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Dr. Renee Joy Dufault became a medical laboratory specialist when she joined the U.S. Army in 1976. Following her four-year service, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning at the University of California at Davis. She then served in the Navy for two years as an Industrial Hygiene Officer, before transferring to the Public Health Service (PHS), where she served as an Environmental Health Officer. During her fourteen years at the PHS, she worked at the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration, where she provided expertise in the areas of toxicology, environmental health, and industrial hygiene. Since her retirement, Dr. Dufault went on to earn a doctorate in Health Education. In addition, she is the founding Executive Director of the Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute (FIHRI), and, as such, collaborates with scientists worldwide to conduct studies and publish papers focused on the many toxic substances still contained in our present food supply. A popular world-wide speaker, Dr. Dufault has had numerous articles published in peer-reviewed journals. She currently resides in Hawaii.

Read an Excerpt

Acknowledgments

This book is a long time coming but not overdue. The state of research is now at a point where I could write it with confidence. Many individuals have contributed to the mercury research, either directly or indirectly, or helped to disseminate the results in one way or another through the years. I would like to thank all of the following individuals for doing their part:

Blaise LeBlanc, Ed Rau, Boyd Haley, Sree Kumar, Chuck Cornett, Alex and Lyudmila Romanyukha, Chad Mitchell, Bill Walsh, Walter Lukiw, Matt Amann, Don Demers, Martha Boss, Dennis Day, Art Dungan, Isaac Pessah, Peter Green, David Krabbenhoft, Cynthia Harris, Barry Lai, Roseanne Schnoll, Laura Schweitzer, David Wallinga, Fred and Alice Ottoboni, Jane Hightower, Lyn Patrick, Rao Ivaturi, Steven Gilbert, Raquel Crider, Leah Woodke, Amanda Hitt, Melinda Wenner, Scott Laster, Martha Herbert, Katsi Cook, David Carpenter, Matt Pamuku, Skip Kingston, Marcia Zimmerman, Daniele Pisanello, Ted Levine, David and Jamie Fletcher, Tom Devine, The Buss Family, Ivan Royster, Mari Eggers, Maureen Swanson, Marissa McInnis, Zara Berg, Erica Newland, Twila Martin-Kekahbah, Larry Wetsit, Wayne Two Bulls, Mesay Mulugeta Wolle, GM Mizanur Rahman, Alika Maunakea, Dan Laks, and the Fort Peck Community College (FPCC) students who participated in the recent clinical trial that focused on the prevention of type 2 diabetes through the elimination of toxic substances from the diet and increased intake of whole, healthy foods.

Thank you also to my editor, Caroline Smith, a talented writer, who helped me organize the contents of the book to make it easier for the public to read, and Rudy Shur, my publisher and friend, who believed in me from the very start and is committed to helping me get this information out to the public.

Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgments
Foreword by Steven G. Gilbert
Preface

Introduction

1. Introduction to Toxic Substances
2. Genes and Your Health
3. Pesticides and Adult-Onset Diseases
4. Ingredients that Add Heavy Metals to Your Body
5. Western Diet and Disease
6. Spotlight on Autism and ADHD
7. Food Labeling Practices
8. Creating a Safe Food Environment at Home

Conclusion

Resources
References
About the Author
Index

Preface

Foreword

We understand both more and less about the impact of what we eat on our health and well-being. There are several problems that cloud our vision and inhibit useful action. First, there has never been adequate research on understanding our basic nutritional needs. Furthermore, national nutritional guidelines are affected by food industry and political consideration.

Second, the farm government subsidy program influences the prices of the food we eat. For example, subsiding grain and corn makes the production of beef less expensive and sweetened beverages cheaper.

Third, the mass production and distribution of food results in the use of more chemicals such as pesticides, preservatives, and other additives, that contaminate our food supply. The health effects of some of these chemicals have been studied, but in most cases we lack basic research on the effects of these chemicals from conception through adulthood and aging.

Fourth, we have become increasingly aware that kids are not little adults and that their developing organ systems are more vulnerable to industrial chemicals. In addition, kids eat more, breathe more, and drink more per body weight than adults, which mean they are both exposed to more chemicals and receive a greater dose than adults.

Fifth, there is a complex regulatory structure that attempts to ensure the safety and adequacy of the food supply but suffers from lack of funding while being buffeted by the competing interests of consumers, industry, and politics.

Finally, the greatest challenge is empowering consumers with adequate knowledge and motivation to make choices that protect and promote the health and well-being of not only their families, but also the greater environment. Even more salient is how to protect our children and ensure they have access to food that allows them to reach and maintain their full potential.

The essence of Renee Dufault’s book Unsafe at Any Meal is captured in the subtitle “What Consumers Must Know to Protect Their Families.” An admirable element of this book is that it is grounded in science and extensively referenced. If you want more details or background information, the references listed in the back of the book provide a starting point. This book does a fantastic job of connecting the dots between the science and everyday actions that can be taken to apply what you have learned. I hope every reader takes this information to heart and follows the guidelines in Chapter 8. The relentless focus on what we are eating and what’s in what we are eating is essential to making changes in our diet and improving our health.

Clearly after reading this book, the conclusion has to be that the underlying science is complicated. However, Renee provides essential guidance and offers simple ways to alter your diet to reduce chemical and heavy metal exposures that will most certainly improve your and your family’s health. I hope after reading this book and examining your diet that you have started on a journey that will lead to better health and a more sustainable environment.


Dr. Steven G. Gilbert, Ph.D., DABT, is a leading researcher in the field of toxicology. He is the director and founder of the Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders based in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Gilbert serves as a director on a number of non-profit organization boards to include among others the Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute and Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Editorial Reviews

05/01/2017
Dufault, a former Food and Drug Administration investigator, criticizes the levels of mercury and other chemicals present in commonly consumed foods. She portrays a federal food safety system rife with ineffective regulations and practices that have left an unknowing American public vulnerable to food contaminants. Citing both her own research and others’ studies, Dufault contends that the consumption of these contaminants, mainly through processed foods, contributes to the prevalence of common American illnesses. Dufault is scathing about food labeling that omits mentions of mercury, arsenic, or other contaminants that can be found in foods as a result of production. She cites the addition of mercury-containing chemicals to high-fructose corn syrup to regulate acidity and increase shelf life. Moreover, she argues that exposure to even government-allowed amounts of contaminants can impact gene regulation and function and contribute to disease. To combat these dangers, Dufault prescribes a diet low in processed foods and high in organic food, vitamins, and nutrients. Her work leaves readers with a disquieting picture of current American food safety standards. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"Makes a very compelling case regarding the Standard American Diet (SAD) and how it can lead to autism, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD), and Alzheimer's disease. It even appears that it may be possible to reverse some of the effects of those conditions by changing our diet . . . well-written and not too academic . . . we think it is an important book . . . should be made required reading for all high school students. A few hundred congressmen should also read this book."

P.S. Annie! Blog - Suzanne & David McClendon

"Written in clear and understandable language, Unsafe at Any Meal begins by telling Dr. Dufault's story. It then describes all of the heavy metals and toxic chemicals found in our present food supply and how each can impact our health. Just as important, it offers practical suggestions on how to avoid these foods in our daily diet . . . I hope that, as healthcare professionals, you will grasp the opportunity to read this groundbreaking book, which may hold the answers to why we remain in the midst of such a devastating national health crisis."

Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients - Dr. Earl Mindell

"Alarmingly relevant . . . [a] former environmental health officer for the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration, [author] Dufault's intimate understanding of the U.S. food regulatory system and its consequences for human health make her an ideal guide for understanding . . . Dufault emphasizes the role that mercury and other toxins play in human physiology . . . look[s] at the corrosive relationship between government regulators and the food industry. Especially useful are [Dufault's] comparison between the U.S. and European food agencies . . . Drawing on government reports, public health data, and nonprofit research organizations (including her own, the Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute), Unsafe at Any Meal is a clear and well-researched alarm bell . . . a solid introductory text to the many problems of the modern American food system."

IndieReader - Richard Marcil for IndieReader

"Unsafe at Any Meal is a unique and convincing contribution to the field of nutrition science and to the discussion on the industrialization and politicization of the food supply. While most books on this topic address the importance of avoiding toxic metals and pesticides, Dufault goes one giant step further and takes the reader on an investigative journey to uncover exactly how these substances get in our food, where they are lurking, and what the latest research reveals that they do over time . . . Even if you already eat a whole-foods, organic diet, there is much new and critical information to be found here."

Price-Pottenger Journal (Vol. 41, No. 4) / Winter 2017-18 - Zachary R. Taylor

"Dr. Dufault is a worthy successor to [Ralph] Nader as an industry insider blowing the lid off the food industry's dark secrets . . . the unique reveal in Unsafe at Any Meal is the pervasiveness of mercury in our foods . . . Dufault fingers high-fructose corn syrup as a Trojan Horse for an even more insidious toxin: mercury . . . What's the solution? Dufault is skeptical of lobbying for more stringent environmental regulations and food safety rules after the brush-off she received from the FDA. Instead, she calls for us to vote with our consumer dollars by purchasing locally-sourced, organic foods, minimally processed, and free of additives. Her mission is to make us aware of what we're putting into our mouths. Thus forewarned, we can protect ourselves and our families."

Dr. Ronald Hoffman

"[Dufault's] book is a sobering read, but Dufault does an admirable job making pesticide data and gene expression grippingly relevant. If you're wondering why we're not paying more attention to food supply and regulation as chronic disease conditions and healthcare costs skyrocket, this is a summer read for you."

Environmental Health News (EHN)

"Each year, Americans consume hundreds of food products that contain truly dangerous compounds, including heavy metals, pesticides, and other harmful additives - with the blessing of the FDA. Why is this happening and why haven't you heard about it? In Unsafe at Any Meal, Dr. Renee Dufault, former food investigator for the Food and Drug Administration, provides the startling answers . . . [it] warns readers about commonly eaten foods that can possess heavy metals (such as lead or mercury, the consumption of which can contribute to conditions such as ADHD or autism), explains food labeling in plain terms, offers guidelines for a nutritionally balanced diet, and much more. Extensive references and an index round out this 'must-have' for health-conscious consumers. Highly recommended!"

Midwest Book Review ("Cowper's Bookshelf")