Last month, we introduced the first part of a new series taking a deep look into one of the most consequential—but often overlooked—aspects of our lives: the integrity of the food we eat. Too frequently, we remain in the dark about the quality or safety of what we're consuming or using. Why should we be asked to accept food that may contain traces of potentially dangerous drugs—such as the anemia-linked chloramphenicol, banned anti-inflammatory phenylbutazone, and hallucinogenic antidepressant ketamine—in the marketplace?
These prohibited drugs are among those that have been detected in the U.S. food supply, according to government data obtained by CR and analyzed by our experts. For this month's cover story, CR pored over thousands of data points and interviewed farmers, scientists, regulators, and industry leaders to explore and better understand these revelations. We also tested 50 widely sold packaged foods for heavy metals such as arsenic and lead—which can carry significant consequences, especially for young children. At a time when nearly 50 million Americans get sick each year because of contaminated food, it's critical that we remain vigilant, set firm standards, and go head-to-head with industry and government agencies when they fail to act with our well-being in mind. Rigorous, trustworthy information is essential to that effort—and we're committed to delivering that to you, so you never have to make unsafe choices.
Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the October 2018 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
