Food Brand Zego Shares Pesticide Testing Data and Others Should Do The Same

We’ve been warning you about pesticides WAY before it became popular. And that’s because the hormonal impact on your body when exposed to certain pesticides is concerning, especially if you are pregnant or have young children. But most brands are not open to sharing their pesticide data and we think that needs to start changing. And to show you that it’s possible, we want to introduce you to Zego, one of our favorite brands. Zego publically shares their pesticide data and want to disrupt the market so that other brands start sharing too. Would you like to learn more about them? You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like best & worst organic milk, 13 foods you don’t need to buy organic, & safer pest control, now join us as we celebrate Zego and their decision to make their pesticide data public.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Zego. We are super proud of what they are doing and wanted to support their efforts. 

Glyphosate is Problematic in Cereals & Grains

Processed foods have a pesticide problem, especially when it comes to grains & cereals. But grains are part of our lives. We don’t want to stop eating our granola & protein bars. We just want them without pesticides and contaminants. Is that too much to ask? The problem is the herbicide glyphosate has been consistently coming up in large quantities in oats, wheat & legumes of processed foods, including some organic brands. Oats & wheat are a focal point of the controversial farming practice called desiccation. This is where the farmer dries out his field before harvest by spraying the crops with glyphosate, leaving more glyphosate residue in the crop. This is believed to be one of the reasons why processed food containing wheat and oats consistently have higher levels of glyphosate.

NewsFlash: The Organic Industry Isn’t Perfect–Fraud on the Horizon

The American organic grain trade has recently been infiltrated by eastern European cartels, who took advantage of the USDA’s lax enforcement policies. According to a report produced by watchdog organization Cornucopia, the USDA fell victim to the European Union clamping down on organic inspections. This shifted the weight of fraudulent organic shipments from former Soviet Bloc countries including Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania, and Russia to the United States and they passed inspections. Organic corn, soybeans, and other commodities were part of the shipments. Most of these crops likely went to feeding organic animals, however, they also contaminated some of our dinner plates in processed foods. Could this be part of the reason why some organic brands are testing positive for glyphosate? Possibly. Millions of pounds of shipments of fraudulently organic food is something the USDA needs to do something about.

Solution: Be Transparent. Zego Shares Pesticide Testing and Challenges Other Brands to Do The Same.

Colleen, the founder of Zego, has been testing her products for years. We interviewed her several years ago for a piece we did on pesticide residue and found out that certain organic spices she was testing for purity were coming up positive for the herbicide glyphosate. She mentioned in the conversation that it was her wish for testing to be part of how brands presented themselves. Today is the first step to her making that dream of transparency become a reality. And she’s done it with the launch of new products.

Zego Launches Protein Powder, Oats, & Muesli 

Zego has launched a brand new product line of oats, muesli, & protein powder on Kickstarter. Each new product from her line has a pesticide report document that shows the levels of pesticides. Here is an example of what you will see when Zego shares their pesticide data.

If you support Zego TODAY, you’ll not only get food that is free from pesticide residue, but you’ll also help them expand their business and keep pressuring the industry. Because really, we need renegades in this world to pressure others into doing the right thing and Zego is that brand! Pledges and packages start at $3 and go all the way up to $500 for those of you who really want to make sure this idea of transparency succeeds. 

Here are the Kickstarter levels of support you can get involved with: 

• Pledge $3 as a vote for transparency! 
• Pledge $15 or more and choose from these delicious choices and get a 3 bar surprise pack!: Exceptional Oats, Apple Cranberry Muesli, Cinnamon Twist Muesli, Chocolate Chip Mix-Ins, Cranberry Mix-Ins, Apple Cinnamon Mix-Ins
• Pledge $25 or more and enjoy 3 oat-based breakfast options: Exceptional Oats, Cinnamon Twist Muesli and Apple Cranberry Muesli. And, get a 3 bar surprise pack!
• Pledge $30 or more and receive a bag of protein powder along with one each of our Seed+Fruit protein bars (4 bars total)
• Pledge $40 or more and receive the school pack including 1 Mixed Box of Just Fruit bars, Chocolate Chip Mix-Ins + 1 Exceptional Oats
• Pledge $75 or more and receive ALL five of the new products: 1 bag of Chocolate Chip Mix-Ins, 1 bag of Pure Protein, 1 bag of Exceptional Oats, 1 bag of Apple Cranberry Muesli, 1 bag of Cinnamon Twist Muesli, A surprise 3 bar sample pack
• Pledge $175 or more and this level has all the new products, 3 flavors of Mix-Ins, a mixed box of each of their nutrition bars (8 bags + 3 mixed boxes of bars).
• Pledge $500 or more and you can choose from any of our other reward level packages

Problematic Pesticides You Want to Avoid

Pesticides are problematic, but Zego is testing or over 400 pesticides and sharing that information with you. But here is a list of some pesticides you really want to avoid. 

• Glyphosate is the most popular herbicide in the world. It’s recently been showing up in oats, wheat and legumes in extremely high amounts. Glyphosate has been deemed a “probable carcinogen” by the World Health Organization and added to the California Prop.65 List of Carcinogens and other chemicals that cause reproductive harm. If you have “Roundup” in your home to kill weeds, you have glyphosate in your home. 
• Chlorpyrifos is linked to harming the development of children and California is now passing regulation to restrict it’s use on farms because spraying this pesticide contaminates the local community. For half a century, foods such as corn, wheat, apples, and citrus have been sprayed with chlorpyrifos, a dangerous pesticide that can damage the developing brains of children, causing reduced IQ, loss of working memory, and attention deficit disorders. The Environmental Protection Agency was set to ban chlorpyrifos until the Trump administration came into power. 
• Malathion is an organophosphate pesticide and nerve poison. It acts by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AchE), creating long-lasting polyneuropathy, sensory damage, damage to DNA, developmental delays, & learning/behavioral problems in young children. Despite numerous organophosphate poisonings of farmworkers, homeowners, and children, it’s still allowed in agriculture. 
• DDT was one of the first chemicals in widespread use as a pesticide. It was later found to be toxic to both humans and the environment and banned in the late 70s. But because it’s so persistent, its still in the environment today and you can find it in animal fat and other produce that was grown where DDT was sprayed. Therefore, this chemical is still showing up in the environment and is a public health nuisance. 
• The “drins” (aldrin, dieldrin, endrin) are persistent organic pollutants that cause serious environmental problems. Although these compounds have been prohibited over the past decades in most countries around the world, they are still routinely found in the environment, especially in the soil in agricultural fields
• Endosulfan is a chlorinated insecticide that is chemically similar to DDT, which was banned nearly 40 years ago. Like DDT, endosulfan builds up in the environment and in the bodies of people and wildlife, and it is transported around the world via winds and currents. Endosulfan is linked to cancer. 

List of 400+ Pesticides Companies Should Test & Make Public

Here’s a list of 400+ pesticides that Zego is testing for and making public for you to see on all their new products.

• 4,4′-Dichlorobenzophen
• Abamectin
• Acephate
• Acequinocyl
• Acetamiprid (SP)
• Acetochior
• Alachlor
• Aldicarb (SP)
• Aldicarb (Sum)
• Aldicarb-sulfone
• Aldicarb-sulfoxide
• Aldrin (SP)
• Ametryn
• Amitraz (SP)
• Atrazine
• Azadirachtin
• Azamethiphos
• Azinphos-ethyl
• Azinphos-methyl
• Azoxystrobin
• Benalaxyl (SP)
• Ben-Carb-TPM (Sum)
• Bendiocarb
• Benfluralin
• Benomyl-Carbendazim
• Bentazone (SP)
• Bentazone-methyl
• Benthiavalicarb-isopropyl
• Bifenazate
• Bifenthrin
• Bifenazate
• Bifenthrin
• Bioallethrin
• Biphenyl
• Bitertanol
• Boscalid
• Bromacil
• Bromophos-methyl
• Bromopropylate
• Bromuconazole
• Bupirimate (SP)
• Buprofezin
• Butralin
• Cadusafos
• Captan
• Captan (Sum)
• Carbaryl
• Carbofuran (SP)
• Carbofuran-3-hydroxy
• Carbophenothion
• Carbosulfan
• Carboxin
• Carfentrazone-ethyl
• Chinomethionat
• Chlorantraniliprole
• Chlorfluazuron
• Chlordane
• Chlordane Cis
• Chlordane Trans
• Chlorfenapyr
• Chlorfenson
• Chlorfenvinphos
• Chlorfluazuron
• Chloridazon
• Chlorobenzilate
• Chloropropylate
• Chlorothalonil
• Chlorotoluron
• Chlorpropham (SP)
• Chlorpyrifos-ethyl
• Chlorpyrifos-methyl
• Chlorthal-dimethyl (DCPA)
• Chlozolinate
• Clethodim
• Clethodim (Sum)
• Clofentezine
• Clomazone
• Clothianidin (SP)
• Coumaphos
• Cyantraniliprole
• Cyazofamid
• Cycloate
• Cycloxydim (SP)
• Cyflufenamid
• Cyflumetofen
• Cymoxanil
• Cyromazine
• Cyfluthrin
• Cyproconazole
• Cyprodinil
• DDD-o,p
• DDD-pp+DDT-op
• DDE-o,p
• DDE-p,p
• DDT (Sum)
• DDT-p,p
• DEET
• Deltamethrin
• Demeton (SP)
• Demeton-S-methyl-sulfone
• Desmedipham
• Dialifos
• Diazinon
• Dichlobenil
• Dichlofenthion
• Diclobutrazol
• Dichlormid
• Dichloroprop
• Dichlorvos
• Diclofop-methyl
• Dicloran
• Dicofol (SUM)
• Dicrotophos
• Dieldrin (SP)
• Dieldrin (Sum)
• Diethofencarb
• Difenocanazole
• Diflubenzuron
• Diflufenican
• Dimethoate (SP)
• Dimethoate (Sume)
• Dimethomorph
• Dinocap (SP)
• Dinotefuran
• Diniconazole
• Diphenylamine
• Disulfoton
• Disulfoton (Sum)
• Disulfoton-sulfone
• Disulfoton-sulfoxide
• Ditalimfos
• Diuron
• Dodemorph
• Dodine
• Emamectin
• Endosulfan (A+B+Sulf)
• Endosulfan Alfa
• Endosulfan Beta
• Endosulfan Sulfate
• Endrin
• EPN
• Epoxiconazole
• EPTC
• Ethalfluralin
• Ethiofencarb
• Ethiofencarb sulfoxide
• Ethion
• Ethiprole
• Ethirimol
• Ethofumesate (SP)
• Ethoprophos
• Ethoxyquin
• Etridiazol
• Etrimfos
• Fenarimol
• Fenazaquin
• Fenitrothion
• Fenoxycarb
• Fenpropathrin
• Fenthion (SP)
• Fenthion-sulfone
• Fenthion-sulfoxide
• Fenvalerate+Esfenvalerate
• Fipronil Sulfide
• Flonicamid (SP)
• Fluazifop-butyl
• Fluazifop-P
• Fluzinam
• Flucythrinate
• Flubendiamide
• Fludioxonil
• Flufenacet
• Flufenoxuron
• Flumeturon
• Flupyradifurone
• Fluopicolide
• Fluopyram
• Fluquincanazol
• Fluotrimazole
• Flusilazole
• Flutolanil
• Flutriafol
• Fluxapyroxad
• Folpet
• Folpet (Sum)
• Fonofos
• Forchlorfenuron
• Formetanate
• Formothion
• Fosthiazate
• Fuberidazole
• Furalaxyl
• Furathiocarb
• Glyphosate
• Haloxyfop
• Haloxyfop (Sum)
• Haloxyfop-2-ethoxyethyl
• Haloxyfop-methyl
• Heptachlor (SP)
• Hexachlorobenzene
• Hexaclorobutadiene
• Hexaconazole
• Hexaflumuron
• Hexythiazox
• Imazalil
• Imidacloprid (SP)
• Indaziflam
• Indoxacarb
• Isocarbophos
• Iprodione
• Isoprothiolane
• Isoproturon
• Isoprothiolane
• Isoproturon
• Isoxaben
• Iprovalicarb
• Isazofos
• Isofenphos
• Isophenfos-methyl
• Kresoxim-methyl
• Lambda-Cyhalothrin
• Lenacile
• Lindane
• Linuron
• Lufenuron
• Malathion (SP)
• Mandipropamid
• Mecarbam
• Mepanipyrim (SP)
• Mepronil
• Metalaxyl-M (Mefenoxam)
• Metaflumizone
• Metamitron
• Metazachlor
• Metconazole
• Methacrifos
• Methamidophos
• Methiocarb (Sum)
• Methiocarb sulfone
• Methiocarb sulfoxide
• Methidathion
• Methomyl (SP)
• Methomyl (Sum)
• Methoxychlor
• Methyloxyfenozide
• Metolachor
• Metocarb
• Metoxuron
• Metrafenone
• Metribuzin
• Mevinphos
• Mirex
• Molinate
• Monocrotophos
• Monolinuron
• Myclobutanil
• Naled (SP)
• Naled (Sum)
• Napropamide
• Nitenpyram
• Norflurazon
• Nuarimol
• Ofurace
• o-Phenylphenol
• Oxadixyl
• Oxyfluorfen
• p,p’ Dicofol
• Paraoxon-ethyl
• Paraoxon-methyl
• Parathion-ethyl (Sum)
• Parathion-methyl (SP)
• Parathion-methyl (Sum)
• Penconazole
• Pendimethalin
• Pentachloroaniline
• Pentachloroanisole
• Pentachlorobenzene
• Permethrin
• Phenchlorphos
• Phenthoate
• Phosalone
• Phosphamidon
• Phorate sulfone
• Phorate sulfoxide
• Phosmet (SP)
• Phthalimide (Folpert)
• Picoxystrobin
• Piperonyl butoxide
• Pirimicarb (SP)
• Pirimiphos-ethyl
• Pirimiphos-methyl
• Prochloraz (SP)
• Procymidone
• Profenofos
• Profluralin
• Promecarb
• Prometryn
• Promecarb
• Propamocarb
• Propachlor
• Propanil
• Propaquizafop
• Propargite
• Propham
• Propiconazole
• Propoxur
• Propyzamide
• Prothiofos
• Proquinazid
• Prosulfocarb
• Prothioconazole
• Pyrazophos
• Pymetrozine
• Pyraclostrobin
• Pyraflufen-ethyl
• Pyridaben
• Pyridalyl
• Pyridaphenthion
• Pyridate
• Pyrifenox
• Pyrimethanil
• Pyriproxyfen
• Quinalphos
• Quinoxyfen
• Quintozene (Pentachloronitrobenze)
• Quintozene (Sum)
• Quizalofop (SP)
• Rotenone
• Simazine
• Saflufenacil
• Sethoxydim
• Spinetoram
• Spinosad (A + D)
• Spirodiclofen
• Spiromesifen
• Spirotetramat (SP)
• Spiroxamine
• Sulfotep
• Sulfoxaflor
•  Tau-Fluvalinate
• Tebuconazole
• Tebufenpyrad
• Tebufenozide
• Teflubenzuron
• Terbufos
• Terbufos (Sum)
• Terbufos-oxon-sulfone
• Terbufos-sulfone
• Terbufos-sulfoxide
• Tecnazene
• Tefluthrin
• Terbacil
• Terbumeton
• Terbuthylazine
• Terbutryn
• Tetrachlorvinphos
• Tetracanazole
• Tetradifon
• Tetrahydrophthalimide (THPI)
• Tetramethrin
• Thiabendazole
• Thiacloprid
• Thiamethoxam (SP)
• Thiometon
• Thiophanate-methyl (SP)
• Tolclofos Methyl
• Tolfenpyrad
• Tolyfluanid (SP)
• Transfluthin
• Triadimefon (SP)
• Triadimenol (SP)
• Triadimenol+Triadimefon
• Triazophos
• Trifluralin
• Trichlorfon
• Tricyclazole
• Tridemorph
• Trifloxystrobin
• Triflumizole (SP)
• Triflumuron
• Triforine
• Uniconazole
• Vinclozolin (SP)
• Zeta-cypermethrin
• Zoxamide

And this is why we are such fans of organic food because the pesticides that we are concerned with are not used by organic farmers. But to be pragmatic, we support organizations and companies who are working on the issue of transparency in the industry. Zego is an example of a brand that I want to support, not only because their products taste great, but also because they are doing something I believe in. If you are looking for organic oats, protein bars, protein powder & museli, check out Zego Foods.

Pin it!