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THE INCREASING PRESENCE OF NANOPARTICLES IN OUR FOOD SUPPLY

On the surface, nanoparticles seem to offer many potential benefits. By adding them to foods and food packaging, they can help deliver nutrients, act as thickening agents, enhance taste or flavor or ensure longer freshness of food. But because of their microscopic size, these minute versions of silver, zinc, titanium dioxide and other metals and nutrients, may cause adverse health impacts. Scientists are still determining the health and environmental impacts of these tiny particles, yet industry is forging ahead introducing nanoparticles into a wide array of packaged foods and food packaging.

On this episode of Locus Focus, we talk with E –The Environmental Magazine editor, Brita Belli, whose recent article in E - Eating Nano - explores what we know and don't know about the impacts of proliferating nanoparticles in our food supply.

BRITA BELLI is the author of The Autism Puzzle: Connecting the Dots Between Environmental Toxins and Rising Autism Rates (Seven Stories Press) and the editor of E-The Environmental Magazine. She wrote The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Renewable Energy for Your Home and edited the book, EarthTalk: Expert Answers to Everyday Questions About the Environment. Her articles have appeared on the websites of National Geographic and the Union of Concerned Scientists, MSN.com, Alternet.com, ecomagination.com, Txchnologist.com and Treehugger.com as well as in Plenty Magazine, Colorado Springs Independent, Black & White City Paper, Illinois Times, Monterey County Weekly, Natural Awakenings and other publications. She created and maintains the blog autismandtoxins.com.