Organic Valley Butter & Eggs-DDT Test Results

Finding DDT in backyard chicken eggs led us to discover a secret of the organic food supply–residue from persistent legacy pesticides like DDT is not monitored by USDA organic standards. So it’s possible that animal products like eggs, butter, yogurt, milk & lunchmeat could have trace amounts of DDT from soil contamination. So we started testing organic products to see what we would find. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like best & worst collagen, best & worst cookware, & best & worst air purifiers, now join us for the DDT test results of Organic Valley eggs & butter.

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DDT Has Been Banned Since 1972 Because It’s Toxic to Humans & Wildlife

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is an insecticide and belongs to a class of pesticides known as organochlorides. It is a synthetic chemical compound that doesn’t occur in nature and is a colorless, crystalline solid.

DDT has been banned since 1972 because of human health and environmental concerns, especially having been blamed for killing off the iconic American Bald Eagle population and thinning out their eggshells which caused the babies to die and lowered the population. Since DDT has been banned in 1972, the American Bald Eagle population has sprung back.

Today people are mostly exposed to DDT as an accidental contaminant from soil exposure or from food. Because DDT (and it’s breakdown chemicals like DDE) takes a very long time to break down in the soil, it’s found all over the United States.

DDT can build up in the fatty tissues of animals and accumulate over time. Therefore, this bioaccumulation can show up in animal products that contain high amounts of fat like butter, eggs, milk, meat, and cheese.

Finding DDT in Soil & Backyard Eggs & Led Us to Discover That Organic Isn’t Testing Soil Either

Earlier in the summer of 2020, I participated in a study with the Detox Project looking to levels of pesticide residue in American hair.

My results dumbfounded me because there was DDT found in my hair.

That led me to test the soil on my property and my backyard eggs where I discovered DDE (a breakdown product of DDT) which after some research I realized came from a walnut grove over 70 years ago.

Through our research, we discovered that USDA Organic certification does not mandate testing of the soil beforehand to ensure animals like cows are not impacted by DDT breaking down in the soil. This is why we started testing brands individually.

Results of Organic Valley Butter & Eggs for DDT

Using method gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS ) Organic Valley butter & eggs were tested in a lab certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on September 3rd & 15th, 2020 and the results were all non-detect, meaning if there is DDT in the butter or eggs, it’s lower than the detection level of 0.010 ppb.

Organic Valley Eggs

Chlorpyrifos < 0.010ppb –Non-Detect
DDD-pp+DDT-op < 0.010ppb — Non-Detect
DDE-p,p < 0.010ppb — Non-Detect
DDT (Sum) * < 0.010ppb — Non-Detect
DDT-p,p < 0.010ppb — Non-Detect