Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. With research and education, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
- EWG to Lee Zeldin: PFAS pesticides are bad news, not ‘fake news’ EWG to Lee Zeldin: PFAS pesticides are bad news, not ‘fake news’ JR Culpepper December 2, 2025 Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin claims “fake news” to reports spotlighting the agency’s approval of new pesticides made with the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.The truth is the EPA’s approval of PFAS pesticides is bad news, especially for the health and well-being of American farmers and consumers. EWG revealed in a recent report that California agricultural fields are sprayed with an average of 2.5 million pounds of PFAS pesticides per year. This widespread use could be contaminating soil, water and produce sold throughout…
- Trump administration backs Bayer in Supreme Court fight, putting corporate interests over Roundup victims Trump administration backs Bayer in Supreme Court fight, putting corporate interests over Roundup victims Anthony Lacey December 2, 2025 WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has joined Bayer’s effort before the Supreme Court to limit legal claims from individuals, including farmers, who allege the company’s flagship product, Roundup, caused cancer. By taking this position, the administration is siding with a major chemical company to deny thousands of affected families their day in court.The following is a statement from Environmental Working Group President and co-Founder Ken Cook:It’s outrageous – though sadly predictable – that the Trump administration has chosen to side with Bayer over…
- New research further highlights the harms of ultra-processed foodNew research further highlights the harms of ultra-processed food Anthony Lacey November 25, 2025 Four new research papers are calling attention to the rising health risks of ultra-processed foods, or UPF. Together they paint a picture of a food landscape flooded with UPF, flagging an urgent need for a more powerful policy response.Three of the papers were published as a series in the Lancet, a leading international medical journal, by a group of more than 40 prominent health experts and pioneers in the field. They conclude that UPF are a leading contributor to chronic disease.The widespread sale and consumption of UPF creates large…
- FDA withdraws rule on tests for cancer-causing asbestos in talc-based cosmeticsFDA withdraws rule on tests for cancer-causing asbestos in talc-based cosmetics Anthony Lacey November 25, 2025 WASHINGTON – The Food and Drug Administration today abruptly said it is withdrawing its proposed rule to establish approved test methods for detecting and identifying cancer-causing asbestos in talc-containing cosmetics. The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 required the FDA to develop the rule. The Trump administration’s decision to scrap the regulation will be published in the November 28 Federal Register. Asbestos is a deadly human carcinogen for which there is no safe level of exposure. Repeated contamination of talc-based products has raised serious public health concerns.The following…
- California violated state law when it gutted rooftop solar program, EWG claims in legal briefCalifornia violated state law when it gutted rooftop solar program, EWG claims in legal brief Anthony Lacey November 23, 2025 SAN FRANCISCO – California utility regulators violated state law by approving policy changes pushed by monopoly utilities that severely throttled a once-thriving rooftop solar market, the Environmental Working Group and its allies claim in a new legal filing.The November 21 filing, in the California Court of Appeal, makes the case for how the California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, “failed to proceed in a manner required by law” in approving the policy changes. EWG filed the brief along with the Center…
- EWG statement on Lancet papers calling for stricter regulation of ultraprocessed foodEWG statement on Lancet papers calling for stricter regulation of ultraprocessed food Iris Myers November 19, 2025 WASHINGTON – A new series of review papers are calling for government policies to reduce the consumption of ultraprocessed foods, or UPF, which is driving increases in chronic diseases and obesity.The three papers, published in the Lancet, underscore the mounting evidence that UPF, which make up over half of the calories consumed daily in the U.S., pose long-term risks to human health. These studies link high UPF consumption to diseases across multiple organ systems. The authors call for the federal government to adopt policies to combat this…
- Updated EWG database finds over $31B spent on U.S. farm conservation programsUpdated EWG database finds over $31B spent on U.S. farm conservation programs Anthony Lacey November 19, 2025 MINNEAPOLIS – Between 2017 and 2024, U.S. taxpayers funded over $31 billion in federal conservation program assistance for farmers and landowners, according to the Environmental Working Group’s newly updated Conservation Database. The money paid for efforts to protect the environment, climate and public health.The database allows viewers to see where billions of dollars in Agriculture Department conservation funding have gone. The data, broken down by county for most programs, show the funding has helped farmers across the country adopt conservation practices. But too often,…
- Apples to apples: Organic varieties can be an affordable way to reduce pesticide exposureApples to apples: Organic varieties can be an affordable way to reduce pesticide exposure Anthony Lacey November 18, 2025 Sydney Evans, MPH Anthony Lacey November 18, 2025 With colder weather and Thanksgiving looming, this is a great time to make delicious warm apple pie, crisp and more. The only question is what kind of apples to use. New EWG research may provide answers – it shows that organic apples, long seen as a splurge, can sometimes cost about the same as non-organic varieties that may have pesticide residue.As food prices soar and families look to protect their pocketbooks, that’s welcome news.It’s…
- Holiday helper: EWG Verified® gift ideasHoliday helper: EWG Verified® gift ideas JR Culpepper November 17, 2025 .has--background.block-content--type-curated-block-list { padding-top: 3rem; padding-bottom: 3rem; } With the holiday season around the corner, you may already be shopping for presents. This year, we’re sharing holiday cheer with gift ideas featuring EWG Verified® products. EWG Verified products have been reviewed by our scientists and meet our strictest standards for safety and ingredient transparency. These moisturizing products, soaps, hand sanitizers and lip products are all under $20, and their small size could make a perfect addition to stockings. Dr. Bronner's All One Hemp Pure Castile Soap, Peppermint PURCHASE ON AMAZON Everyone hand…
- Tyson Foods agrees to stop making ‘net-zero’ and ‘climate-smart beef’ claimsTyson Foods agrees to stop making ‘net-zero’ and ‘climate-smart beef’ claims JR Culpepper November 14, 2025 WASHINGTON – The Environmental Working Group has reached a settlement in its lawsuit alleging that Tyson Foods’ promises to reach “net-zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and sell “climate-smart” beef were not backed by sufficient actions to make those goals credible.Under the settlement, Tyson will refrain from making these environmental claims for five years and cannot introduce new related claims unless they are supported by expert analysis and verified facts. The settlement was filed today in D.C. Superior Court.It follows a separate settlement reached on November…
- Transcript of EWG podcast 'Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 43Transcript of EWG podcast 'Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 43 JR Culpepper November 12, 2025 In this podcast episode, EWG President and co-Founder Ken Cook talks with Lindsay Dahl about how to regulate chemicals, protect public health and decide product safety.Dahl has worked for more than two decades in the private and public sector. She’s the author of “Cleaning House: The Fight to Rid Our Homes of Toxic Chemicals,” that discusses why environmental health has always been a bipartisan issue, despite today's polarized politics. She emphasizes the importance of holding all elected officials accountable, regardless of party, on…
- Transcript of EWG podcast 'Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 44Transcript of EWG podcast 'Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 44 JR Culpepper November 7, 2025 In this podcast episode, EWG President and co-Founder Ken Cook talks with Matt Randolph, aka Mr. Global. Randolph has more than 33 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, including his work as a Shell expert and as co-founder of Sentinel Energy. As Mr. Global, he’s an internet educator using TikTok and YouTube to combat political lies about energy policy.Although Randolph is an oil industry veteran, he actively promotes renewable energy and believes in climate change, while warning about the…
- Transcript of EWG podcast 'Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 43Transcript of EWG podcast 'Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 43 JR Culpepper November 7, 2025 In this episode, EWG President and co-Founder Ken Cook speaks with Brian Deer, an investigative journalist known for exposing the 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield that falsely linked the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine to autism. Cook and Deer’s conversation focuses on the investigation and impact of the study’s exposé, as well as the evidence he unearthed. They discuss the persistence of vaccine misinformation, even after the study was retracted, and its longevity under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.…
- EWG statement on Sen. Marshall’s Better Food Disclosure ActEWG statement on Sen. Marshall’s Better Food Disclosure Act Iris Myers November 7, 2025 WASHINGTON – Yesterday Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) introduced a bill that would, if enacted, fall short of what is needed to close the regulatory gap that allows food ingredients onto the market that have not been sufficiently reviewed. The “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS, exemption allows food and chemical companies, rather than the Food and Drug Administration, to decide whether a food chemical is safe. Congress created the GRAS exemption to apply to common food ingredients with widespread recognition of safety, such as vinegar, flour, and spices. But…
- EWG finds California crop fields showered with 2.5M pounds of PFAS pesticidesEWG finds California crop fields showered with 2.5M pounds of PFAS pesticides Anthony Lacey November 6, 2025 WASHINGTON – Every year, an average of 2.5 million pounds of pesticides containing the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS are sprayed on California crop fields, according to a new analysis and interactive map from the Environmental Working Group.From 2018 through 2023, nearly 15 million pounds of PFAS pesticides were applied statewide, EWG found, based on a review of state Department of Pesticide Regulation data. Over the six year period, Fresno County used the most, 2.1 million pounds, then Kern with 1.6 million pounds, and…
- Rooftop solar lawsuit sets historic precedent holding California utility regulators accountableRooftop solar lawsuit sets historic precedent holding California utility regulators accountable Anthony Lacey November 6, 2025 For decades, California courts gave the policy decisions of state utility regulators unparalleled deference. But those choices now face strict judicial oversight, thanks to a ruling in a lawsuit over the future of net energy metering that returns to court this month.The lawsuit challenges whether the California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, broke the law in 2022 with a decision that damaged the state’s once-thriving rooftop solar program. In upcoming briefs to the California Courts of Appeal, EWG, Protect Our Communities Foundation and Center for Biological…
- Advocates hold 'Stop the Stamp!' event calling on CPUC to halt latest PG&E rate hikeAdvocates hold 'Stop the Stamp!' event calling on CPUC to halt latest PG&E rate hike Anthony Lacey November 5, 2025 ***MEDIA ADVISORY***For planning purposesFRESNO, Calif. – Environmental and consumer advocates will gather in Fresno on November 7 to urge the California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, to reject Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s latest plan to hike rates yet again. The press event will take place immediately before the CPUC’s public hearing on PG&E’s 2027 General Rate Case — a proposal that would pile even higher costs onto households struggling to pay some of the highest electric bills in the country.Speakers…
- EWG comments on the FDA’s ultra-processed foods request for informationEWG comments on the FDA’s ultra-processed foods request for information Iris Myers October 30, 2025 Attached are EWG’s comments submitted in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s request for information to be used to develop a uniform definition of ultra-processed food. File Download Document ewg-public-comment-upf-rfi-6.pdf October 30, 2025
- EWG comments on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency July 2025 announcement regarding perchloroethylene regulation under the Toxic Substances Control ActEWG comments on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency July 2025 announcement regarding perchloroethylene regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act rcoleman October 29, 2025 Attached are EWG's submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency on their July 2025 announcement regarding perchloroethylene regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act. File Download Document ewg-comments-u.s-epa-perc-august-2025.pdf Areas of Focus Toxic Chemicals Authors David Andrews, Ph.D. Olga Naidenko, Ph.D. August 7, 2025
- Bipartisan group of 157 state legislators urges Sen. Marshall to protect states’ ability to regulate toxic food chemicalsBipartisan group of 157 state legislators urges Sen. Marshall to protect states’ ability to regulate toxic food chemicals Anthony Lacey October 27, 2025 WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of more than 150 state lawmakers throughout the country is today urging Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to preserve the ability of states to protect consumers from toxic food chemicals.In a letter to the senator, the legislators emphasize states’ long history of public safety and health protections, including food safety laws. They emphasize the risks of any effort by Congress to preempt, or block, state action on regulating harmful food chemicals. This would undermine…
- Bang for your buck: Moisturizers for less than $20Bang for your buck: Moisturizers for less than $20 JR Culpepper October 24, 2025 .has--background.block-content--type-curated-block-list { padding-top: 3rem; padding-bottom: 3rem; } Winter air doesn’t just chill you – it can strip your skin of essential moisture. Skin gets drier during colder months, so you may want to level up your moisturizing routine in response.Cold, dry air pulls moisture from your skin barrier, causing dryness, cracking, and irritation. Indoor heating systems and long, hot showers can also strip away natural oils that make up the skin barrier and disrupt your skin’s natural ability to stay hydrated. Moisturizers can help. But shoppers may not know some…
- Over 80 groups urge Congress to oppose legislation blocking state food safety lawsOver 80 groups urge Congress to oppose legislation blocking state food safety laws Anthony Lacey October 23, 2025 WASHINGTON – Today a diverse coalition of 84 organizations called on House and Senate lawmakers to oppose any legislative efforts that would block state laws protecting consumers from toxic chemicals in food.The coalition includes the Environmental Working Group and many other public health and environmental groups. The letter they sent today says state laws are often the first line of defense for consumers facing emerging chemical-safety threats in the food supply, especially since the Food and Drug Administration has failed to act. It…
- Halloween horror led to stricter food safety law, but more progress is neededHalloween horror led to stricter food safety law, but more progress is needed Anthony Lacey October 23, 2025 In the fall of 1950, a Halloween nightmare unfolded. Something in candy was making kids sick with severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps.The event was a wake-up call for the Food and Drug Administration, launching it on the path of more oversight of food chemicals. Today, 75 years later, food chemicals and dyes are back in the spotlight. Some members of Congress may soon introduce a bill that could repeal state laws that protect people from toxic food chemicals. The legislation would also likely block states…
- Big Food launches misleading ‘transparency’ front group to block state food safety lawsBig Food launches misleading ‘transparency’ front group to block state food safety laws Anthony Lacey October 22, 2025 WASHINGTON — A new food and beverage industry front group launched this week and despite its name, it’s anything but transparent.The organization calls itself Americans for Ingredient Transparency, or AFIT. Some of the nation’s biggest food and beverage corporations are bankrolling the group, including General Mills, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo. AFIT claims to want a uniform national standard for ingredient safety and transparency “rooted in science.”But AFIT’s real mission is blocking state laws that require companies to disclose or remove harmful chemicals from…
- Transcript of EWG podcast 'Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 42Transcript of EWG podcast 'Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 42 JR Culpepper October 21, 2025 In this episode, EWG President and co-Founder Ken Cook talks with Errol Schweizer, a former Whole Foods executive. Schweizer writes the Substack “The Checkout Grocery Update,” advocating for food system workers and demystifying food systems and regulatory frameworks.Cook and Schweizer discuss what drives grocery product prices, including the impact of major supermarket companies and wholesalers concentrating market share, among other factors.They also talk about how presidential actions have affected grocery prices. Examples include interest hikes under former President Joe Biden and the “Make…
- Re-Volt will restock California utility regulators’ worn-out rubber stamps for PG&E rate hikeRe-Volt will restock California utility regulators’ worn-out rubber stamps for PG&E rate hike Anthony Lacey October 21, 2025 SACRAMENTO – Energy accountability campaign Re-Volt announced today it will supply the California Public Utilities Commission’s members with new rubber stamps before they get ready to approve Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s latest utility bill rate hike.The five commissioners are notorious for green-lighting reckless rate increases and spending plans by PG&E and the state’s two other investor-owned power companies. Instead of acting as a needed check on utilities to protect ratepayers, the CPUC approves the companies’ plans with no pushback.“It’s clear the CPUC believes…
- Transcript of EWG podcast ‘Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 42Transcript of EWG podcast ‘Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 42 JR Culpepper October 21, 2025 In this episode, EWG President and co-Founder Ken Cook talks with Lo Bosworth, author, influencer, and founder and CEO of Love Wellness, a women’s personal care brand that uses emerging microbiome research to explore gut, vaginal and hormonal connections in women’s bodies.Cook and Bosworth discuss the pervasiveness of endometriosis, a disease faced by 10% of women and girls. The disease causes uterine tissue to grow outside the uterus and can cause severe pelvic pain and fertility issues. Bosworth recounts her endometriosis diagnosis and the lack…
- Use of hair dye associated with uterine fibroids in Black women, study findsUse of hair dye associated with uterine fibroids in Black women, study finds Anthony Lacey October 20, 2025 Using hair dye may be linked to developing non-cancerous tumors in the uterus, particularly among Black women, a recent study suggests.By age 50, around 70% of women have at least one of these tumors, known as uterine fibroids. Most do not show symptoms, but the presence of fibroids may lead to health effects like worse or heavier periods, pelvic pain and fertility issues. These fibroids are diagnosed more often in Black women compared to white women.The study analyzed the potential association between hair dye use…
- Newsom’s veto of PFAS ban for cookware, other products puts millions of Californians at riskNewsom’s veto of PFAS ban for cookware, other products puts millions of Californians at risk Anthony Lacey October 13, 2025 SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom’s veto of Senate Bill 682, which would have banned the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS from consumer products, is a deeply disappointing setback for health and environmental protection in California, the Environmental Working Group says. By rejecting this commonsense legislation, the governor is siding with chemical industry interests over the safety of California families. And this veto will ultimately shift the costs of cleaning up PFAS contamination of tap water to consumers, rather than ending a source…
- Statement of Scott Faber during signing ceremony for AB 1264, banning ‘particularly harmful’ ultra-processed foodsStatement of Scott Faber during signing ceremony for AB 1264, banning ‘particularly harmful’ ultra-processed foods Ketura Persellin October 9, 2025 SACRAMENTO – On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a first-in-the-nation law to legally define ultra-processed food, or UPF, and phase out the most harmful UPF from public school meals.Assembly Bill 1264, introduced by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), received overwhelming bipartisan support from legislators in the Assembly and Senate. The bill was sponsored by the Environmental Working Group.Ultra-processed food and drinks are designed to be hyperpalatable, engineered to be addictive and marketed to be profitable for their makers – all at the cost of…
- Children at schools throughout the U.S. could lose local health protections from pesticidesChildren at schools throughout the U.S. could lose local health protections from pesticides Anthony Lacey October 7, 2025 Geoff Horsfield Al Rabine October 8, 2025 Thousands of U.S. schools are near farms where harmful pesticides may be sprayed, an EWG analysis finds. But some members of Congress want to block states and local governments’ right to warn parents and protect students from the health risks of pesticide spraying.They’re looking to use the upcoming “skinny” farm bill as a vehicle to end the long-standing ability of state and local officials to safeguard people from the worst risks of pesticide spraying. If they…
- California enacts landmark state law to protect schoolkids from harmful ultra-processed foodCalifornia enacts landmark state law to protect schoolkids from harmful ultra-processed food Iris Myers October 7, 2025 SACRAMENTO – In a historic victory for children’s health, Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed a first-in-the-nation law to legally define ultra-processed food, or UPF and phase out the most harmful UPF from public school meals. Assembly Bill 1264, introduced by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), received overwhelming bipartisan support from legislators in the Assembly and Senate. “With Gov. Newsom’s signature, California has taken a historic step toward protecting our children from harmful ultra-processed foods and chemical additives,” said Gabriel.“While Washington, D.C., is paralyzed by inaction, California is once…
- EWG analysis finds farm emissions from fertilizing ‘continuous corn’ crops fueling climate crisisEWG analysis finds farm emissions from fertilizing ‘continuous corn’ crops fueling climate crisis Anthony Lacey October 3, 2025 MINNEAPOLIS – Fertilizing massive “continuous corn” crops across the Midwest is a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions, a new Environmental Working Group analysis shows. But proven conservative practices could dramatically cut farming’s contribution to climate change.The new report, focused on four Corn Belt states, draws extensively on cropland and climate data from the Agriculture Department. It highlights the outsize climate toll of continuous corn – when farmers grow corn on the same field year after year. Nearly 15 million acres in…
- Gov. Newsom signs nation’s first law to require tests of prenatal vitamins for heavy metalsGov. Newsom signs nation’s first law to require tests of prenatal vitamins for heavy metals JR Culpepper October 2, 2025 SACRAMENTO – Today Gov. Gavin Newsom took a major step toward protecting maternal and fetal health by requiring prenatal multivitamin manufacturers to test for and publicly disclose levels of potentially harmful heavy metals in their products. The new law comes amid growing alarm over the presence of the heavy metals arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in supplements intended for pregnant women.Sen. Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) introduced SB 646, which the Environmental Working Group co-sponsored. The new requirements take effect on…
- EWG Verified® sets a gold standard with new eczema product categoryEWG Verified® sets a gold standard with new eczema product category JR Culpepper September 30, 2025 WASHINGTON – As millions of Americans struggle to treat their eczema and decode product labels, the Environmental Working Group is offering a game-changing solution: a new EWG Verified® category that sets bold benchmarks for safety and transparency in over-the-counter, or OTC, eczema products.EWG Verified products have to meet EWG’s strictest standards for ingredient safety, health and full transparency. Four eczema products from HealthyBaby, Mustela and Hypothesis™ meet these standards. Their inclusion in this new EWG Verified category signals to consumers that these eczema products…
- Transcript of EWG podcast ‘Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 41Transcript of EWG podcast ‘Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 41 JR Culpepper September 23, 2025 In this podcast episode, EWG President and co-Founder Ken Cook talks with Lisa Bronner, part of the family behind Dr. Bronner’s soap. She’s Dr. Bronner’s consumer educator and a longtime advocate for clean personal care products and regenerative, organic farming. She is also the author of “Soap and Soul: A Practical Guide to Minding Your Home, Your Body, and Your Spirit with Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps.” Bronner recounts the history of her family and her grandfather’s founding of the company, in 1948. She talks…
- Why an effective water filter matters for your homeWhy an effective water filter matters for your home JR Culpepper September 23, 2025 Using a home drinking water filter is one of the most effective ways to reduce exposure to harmful contaminants, from the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS to arsenic, lead and more. Tap water quality can vary quite widely in the U.S. depending on your location, the source of your drinking water and the size of the water system.Drinking water often contains a mixture of pollutants.EWG’s recent research and map shows that over 100 million people’s tap water in the U.S. contains hexavalent chromium, also called chromium-6, nitrate and arsenic. Exposure to these…
- EWG statement: EPA defends Superfund ‘hazardous substance’ designation for PFOA and PFOSEWG statement: EPA defends Superfund ‘hazardous substance’ designation for PFOA and PFOS Anthony Lacey September 18, 2025 Update appendedWASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency is reaffirming its decision to list PFOA and PFOS – two of the most notorious “forever chemicals” known as PFAS – as “hazardous substances” under the Superfund law.The EPA’s announcement, in a September 17 press release and court filing, confirms that the rule will remain in place, despite ongoing legal challenges filed by industry groups and others.The move clears the way for the government to hold PFAS polluters financially responsible for decades of contamination. It will also jumpstart long-overdue…
- New peer-reviewed EWG study finds eating some produce increases pesticide levels in peopleNew peer-reviewed EWG study finds eating some produce increases pesticide levels in people JR Culpepper September 18, 2025 WASHINGTON – Consuming some types of fruits and vegetables can increase the levels of harmful pesticides detected in people’s bodies, according to a new peer-reviewed study by Environmental Working Group scientists.Pesticides have been linked to cancer, reproductive harm, hormone disruption and neurotoxicity in children. Residues of these chemicals are often detected on produce, creating exposure concerns for consumers. The new study may help inform future research into how dietary exposure to pesticides through fruit and vegetables might affect human health.“The findings reinforce that…
- PFAS in drinking water: What you need to knowPFAS in drinking water: What you need to know JR Culpepper September 17, 2025 The Environmental Protection Agency is moving to weaken national drinking water limits on the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. You may be asking: With federal safeguards at risk, how can I protect myself from these harmful substances in tap water?PFAS, a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals, have been found in nearly half of drinking water supplies across the U.S. According to the EPA’s water monitoring data and state tests, PFAS have been detected in tap water serving 172 million people.They are known as forever chemicals because they…
- EWG map supports ‘co-contaminant’ tap water rules for preventing up to 50,000 cancer casesEWG map supports ‘co-contaminant’ tap water rules for preventing up to 50,000 cancer cases rcoleman September 17, 2025 Regulating and treating multiple drinking water contaminants as groups, instead of the standard method of targeting one at a time, would significantly benefit public health. Millions of Americans have drinking water contaminated with hexavalent chromium and arsenic or nitrate, or all three, a new EWG map shows. Treating tap water for these and other pollutants at once could prevent up to 50,000 lifetime cancer cases in the U.S, a recent peer-reviewed EWG study finds. For example, ion exchange is a water treatment that can help…
- Map shows tap water for nearly 100M people has toxic chromium-6 mixed with arsenic and nitrateMap shows tap water for nearly 100M people has toxic chromium-6 mixed with arsenic and nitrate JR Culpepper September 17, 2025 WASHINGTON – Thousands of communities have water utilities serving almost 100 million people drinking water polluted with hexavalent chromium, also called chromium-6, as well as arsenic and nitrate. That’s the finding of a new report and interactive map published today by the Environmental Working Group. These contaminants are known to cause cancer and other health harms, and are toxic at extremely low levels. But most drinking water treatment systems only tackle one contaminant at a time.Filtering several co-occurring contaminants together instead could prevent up to an estimated…
- EWG statement on EPA bid for court to scrap four ‘forever chemicals’ tap water limitsEWG statement on EPA bid for court to scrap four ‘forever chemicals’ tap water limits Monica Amarelo September 12, 2025 WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency is asking a federal appeals court to let it drop four vital drinking water standards that apply to the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. “It took years of hard, bipartisan work to secure these vital protections to finally start turning the tap off with PFAS water contamination. The EPA is now doing the exact opposite – trying to keep the tap running and endangering millions of Americans,” said Melanie Benesh, the Environmental Working Group’s vice…
- California bill to ban ‘forever chemicals’ in consumer products heads to governorCalifornia bill to ban ‘forever chemicals’ in consumer products heads to governor JR Culpepper September 12, 2025 SACRAMENTO – In a bold step toward better public health protections, California is poised to become the next state to ban the sale of consumer products made with the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. Senate Bill 682, authored by Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), cleared the state Legislature and is now on its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature. If enacted, the bill would ban the sale and distribution of many consumer goods containing intentionally added PFAS, beginning in 2028. Affected products include…
- California lawmakers send to governor’s desk the nation’s first bill to require tests of prenatal vitamins for heavy metalsCalifornia lawmakers send to governor’s desk the nation’s first bill to require tests of prenatal vitamins for heavy metals JR Culpepper September 12, 2025 SACRAMENTO – Today the California Legislature took a major step toward protecting maternal and fetal health with passage of Senate Bill 646. The first-in-the-nation bill would, if signed, require prenatal multivitamin manufacturers to test for and publicly disclose levels of potentially harmful heavy metals in their products. Sen. Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) introduced SB 646, which the Environmental Working Group is co-sponsoring. The legislation next heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, and he has until Oct. 12…
- Transcript of EWG podcast ‘Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode’ – Episode 40Transcript of EWG podcast ‘Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode’ – Episode 40 JR Culpepper September 11, 2025 In this podcast episode, EWG President and co-Founder Ken Cook talks with Dr. Bruce Lanphear, professor of health sciences at Simon Fraser University and principal investigator for a study examining fetal and early childhood exposure to chemicals prevalent in the environment that harm the nervous system.Lanphear’s research experience spans multiple areas: lead poisoning prevention, asthma, tobacco smoke exposure, and the measurement of lead and allergens in housing. Cook and Lanphear discuss the science behind neurotoxic chemicals, specifically looking at fluoride in the U.S. water system. They…
- Transcript of EWG podcast ‘Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 39Transcript of EWG podcast ‘Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 39 JR Culpepper September 10, 2025 In this podcast episode, EWG President and co-Founder Ken Cook talks with Will Westmoreland, a farmer from Missouri with 25 years of experience working on rural campaigns, elections and the land. Westmoreland is a father, grandfather and political consultant. His passion for the health of rural America focuses on bringing innovative sustainable agriculture solutions to rural communities through the Back Forty group.Cook and Westmoreland discuss the history and politics of agriculture in the U.S., especially in their shared home state of Missouri. They dive into the economics…
- EWG testimony before the California Senate Health Committee on AB 1264, to ban particularly harmful ultra-processed foodsEWG testimony before the California Senate Health Committee on AB 1264, to ban particularly harmful ultra-processed foods Iris Myers September 9, 2025 Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Scott Faber, testifying for the Environmental Working Group. I also teach Food Law at Georgetown University Law Center. Prior to joining EWG, I was the Vice President for Federal Affairs for the Consumer Brands Association. The overwhelming scientific evidence shows that ultraprocessed foods have been linked to serious health harms. Processed foods are part of a healthy diet, but ultraprocessed foods, or UPF, are different from processed foods because they…
- EWG: MAHA report parrots pesticide industry playbook, abandoning RFK Jr.’s promisesEWG: MAHA report parrots pesticide industry playbook, abandoning RFK Jr.’s promises rcoleman September 9, 2025 WASHINGTON – The Environmental Working Group today criticized the Trump administration’s final “Make America Healthy Again,” or MAHA, report for abandoning MAHA leaders’ promises to ban toxic agricultural chemicals. Instead, the MAHA plan echoes the pesticide industry’s talking points. The recommendations for improving Americans’ health includes blather about “precision” agriculture. The report acknowledges “confidence” in the Environmental Protection Agency’s “robust” pesticide review process, with zero words about banning the use of harmful pesticides.A MAHA report released in May included several mentions of the health risks of pesticides,…
- California lawmakers pass first-in-nation bill to protect kids from harmful ultra-processed foods in schoolsCalifornia lawmakers pass first-in-nation bill to protect kids from harmful ultra-processed foods in schools Iris Myers September 9, 2025 SACRAMENTO – Today the California Legislature took a historic step to protect children’s health by passing a trailblazing bill to legally define ultra-processed food, or UPF, and phase out some UPF from public school meals.Assembly Bill 1264, introduced by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), received overwhelming bipartisan support from legislators in the Assembly and Senate. EWG is sponsoring the bill, which now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.“Our public schools should not be serving students ultra-processed food products filled with chemical additives that can…