The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Trump administration repeals a clean water law, putting the drinking water for millions of Americans at risk

On Thursday, the Trump administration finalized its plan to repeal the Waters of the U.S. rule or WOTUS – an Obama-era rule that prohibits the dumping of industrial and agricultural pollution into sensitive waterways that provide tap water for more than 117 million Americans.

The repeal of the rule will remove protections for many small streams and wetlands, which were put in place in 2015. The rule determines which streams, rivers, and lakes are protected from pollution by the federal Clean Water Act and extends protection for millions of acres of wetlands that filter drinking water.

Small streams are where big rivers start, and the best science confirms that dirty streams lead to even dirtier rivers, said Craig Cox, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources for the Environmental Working Group. Millions of Americans drink water directly connected to 234,000 miles of small streams that will now be unprotected as a result of the repeal.

Consumer Reports replies to Impossible Foods’ criticism of its article on the company’s beef substitute burger

Photo: Sarah Stierch

On Monday, I went with a group of colleagues to a local restaurant for a meeting. The menu said you could get an Impossible Burger for $2 more in any of its burger options. Knowing I was going to post the Consumer Reports reply to Impossible Foods’s article about them, I wanted to try one. However, I was told the Impossible burger wasn’t available. The company hasn’t been able to keep up with production to meet all the new demand. Disappointing.

Here’s the Consumer Reports statement on Impossible Foods’ beef with its critique:

In response to Consumer Reports’ recent article “Meat Gets A Makeover” focusing on plant-based alternatives to traditional beef burgers, Rachel Konrad – Impossible Foods’ PR chief – published an inflammatory and misleading attack on the motivations and methods behind our coverage of the safety of a key ingredient in the Impossible Burger. Oddly enough, she seems out for blood about an article that very fairly compares several plant-based alternatives based on taste, safety, and environmental impact.

Processed meats cured with natural ingredients just as harmful as those cured with synthetic ingredients, Consumer Reports tests show

The terms “Uncured” and “No Nitrate or Nitrite Added” shouldn’t be allowed to be used on labels for meat processed with nitrates or nitrites from natural ingredients, such as celery powder, the Center for Science in the Public Interest and Consumer Reports told the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wednesday. The groups urged the agency to revise its rule because the labels are misleading and may give consumers the false impression that these products are healthier.

Tests of deli meats by Consumer Reports show the labels are misleading. Consumer Reports tested 31 packaged deli meats – name brands and store brands – including chicken, ham, roast beef, salami, and turkey. It’s tests showed that nitrates and nitrites, which have been linked to cancer, are found in processed meats labeled “Uncured” or “No Nitrates or Nitrites Added” at similar levels to those prepared with synthetic curing agents such as sodium nitrite.  

“The ‘Uncured’ and ‘No Nitrate or Nitrite Added’ labels could make people think these meats are healthier, but our tests show they are not,” said Charlotte Vallaeys, senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports. “Deli meats carrying these labels pose the same health risks as traditionally cured meats because the nitrate and nitrite levels are essentially the same.”

How to reduce the amount of plastic you eat

That’s right, you read it correctly. Humans, like animals, are eating plastic. We’ve all read about dead animals found filled with plastic, but it’s important for humans to realize that they, too, are consuming plastic.

I recently wrote about how to reduce the amount of plastic we use in our lives. A Consumer Reports article, “How to Eat Less Plastic,” alerted me to the fact we need to go a step further and take a look at how much plastic we’re eating.

Research is just beginning on how many tiny particles of plastic people consume. One research review calculated that by eating, drinking, and breathing, the average American ingests 74,000 to 121,000 microplastic particles every year, with even more ingested if bottled water is consumed regularly, according to the article.

States sue EPA over pesticide that harms children

Six state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Wednesday in federal court against the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency for continuing to allow chlorpyrifos, a pesticide that harms children’s neurological development, to be used on food. The states are challenging the EPA’s decision, because it hasn’t made a determination, as is required by law, that the pesticide is safe.

“Chlorpyrifos is extremely dangerous, especially to the health of our children,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “Yet, the Trump Administration continues to ignore both the science and law, by allowing this toxic pesticide to contaminate food at unsafe levels. If the Trump EPA won’t do its job and protect the health and safety of New Yorkers, my office will take them to court and force them to fulfill their responsibilities.”

Scientific evidence shows that even small doses of chlorpyrifos can damage parts of the brain that control language, memory, behavior, and emotion. Studies have found that exposure to chlorpyrifos impairs children’s IQs.

Trump brags about his administration’s environmental accomplishments while he repeals important safeguards

At White House event Monday, President Donald Trump touted his administration’s environmental record while at the same time repealing the Clean Power Plan, which had put the first national limits on carbon pollution from power plants.

Trump’s touting of his administration’s pristine environmental record is nothing short of nonsense, said Allison Fisher, outreach director for Public Citizen’s Energy Program.

“Trump has the worst environmental record of any president in history, which is hardly a surprise for an administration that has installed a coal lobbyist as head of the Environmental Protection Agency and an oil and gas lobbyist to run the Department of Interior,” said Fisher. “Trump’s repeal of the commonsense Clean Power Plan and Clean Car standards are proof of that.”

Think fireworks safety this Fourth of July to avoid injuries and deaths, the CPSC advises

For years, I’ve written about the dangers of fireworks approaching the Fourth of July. And, for years, kids keep getting their fingers blown off and sustaining other injuries and even dying.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Wednesday that at least five fireworks-related deaths were reported in 2018 – all associated with reloadable aerial devices.

“CPSC works year-round to help prevent deaths and injuries from fireworks, by verifying fireworks meet safety regulations in our ports, marketplace and on the road,” said Ann Marie Buerkle, CPSC acting chairman. “Beyond CPSC’s efforts, we want to make sure everyone takes simple safety steps to celebrate safely with their family and friends.”

Injuries

There were about 9,100 fireworks-related, emergency department-treated injuries in 2018, with 62 percent of them occurring during the month surrounding the Fourth of July. During that period, firecrackers were the number one cause of injuries, making up for 19 percent of the estimated injuries.  For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for more than half of the total estimated injuries.

Celebrate July Fourth with these safety and health tips

Do you want to have a Fourth of July that’s fun yet safe? Check out these tips from the Environmental Working Group.

Holiday barbecue

Before you head to the grocery store, check out the EWG’s resources on the healthiest foods, the cleanest produce, and the safest and most humanely produced meat and dairy. While you’re shopping, check out the hot dogs. To avoid nitrates and nitrites, which can cause cancer, choose natural hot dogs, or select a different protein. You can also make safe, healthy menu planning easier with EWG’s Healthy Living App, which lets you check in the store how well a product rates.

In addition, make sure you avoid charring meat to decrease your risk of cancer, and use a food thermometer to make sure it’s fully cooked so you can avoid food-borne illnesses such as E. coli.

More children’s cereals contaminated with cancer-causing weedkiller identified in new round of tests by EWG

A toxic weedkiller linked to cancer was detected in every sample of oat-based cereals and snack products in a new round of tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group.

All but four of the 21 products contained levels of glyphosate, the main ingredient in Bayer-Monsanto’s Roundup, higher that what EWG scientists consider safe for children’s health.

The highest levels of the weedkiller were detected in General Mills’ Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch at 833 parts per billion, or ppb, and Cheerios, with 729 ppb. The EWG’s health benchmark for children is 160 ppb. A child would only need to eat a single 60-gram serving of food with a glyphosate level of 160 ppb to reach the maximum dose considered safe by the EWG.

Baby boomers embrace summer with fun and practical ideas

What’s a boomer style summer look like? Summer boomer style looks like any other season – with thoughts and activities both practical and deep.

This week’s articles include:

• The dilemma older adults face on whether to dye their hair.
• How to reduce arguments about money.
• Hidden fees that most Americans pay regularly.
• An adventure sailing down the coast of Maine.
• How you can rebuild your creative “muscles” through different practices.
• How to cultivate your friendship garden.

Carol Cassara of A Healing Spirit writes about these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #600. Click here to get the links to the articles. And let us know your opinions in the comment sections. It’s fun to hear what our readers have to say.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Personal Finance Writer