Moms Across America, an educational non profit, is announcing the heavy metal test results from the top twenty most popular fast food restaurants. The 42 samples were tested for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. 100% of the samples, which were purchased at 21 different locations nationwide, contained alarming levels of cadmium and lead.
Moms Across America initiated this testing because of growing concern for skyrocketing levels of mental health issues, violence, behavior and learning disorders, and autism in American children. Moms Across America’s previous testing showed school lunches to be highly contaminated with agrochemicals and pollutants. Fast food companies are often the suppliers of school meals.
Moms Across America Founder, Zen Honeycutt states, “Moms Across America is calling upon policy makers to support changes in farming practices, to regenerative organic, that can provide non toxic, nutrient dense food to every American child through school lunches. Our families require a higher standard of safety in fast food and the entire food supply. The security, success, and future of our country depends on the mental and physical health of our children.”
Summary
100% of the fast food samples tested contained alarming levels of cadmium.The levels of cadmium were between 74%-1158% higher than what the EPA allows in drinking water.
Cadmium is highly carcinogenic and can cause toxic reactions even at low levels.
In-and-Out french fries had 1,158% higher levels of cadmium than what the EPA allows in drinking water.
Jack-in-the-Box french fries had 970% higher levels of cadmium than what the EPA allows in drinking water.
100% of the 42 fast food samples tested had trace amounts or higher of lead.
Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to negatively affect a child’s intelligence, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement.
A Sonic Drive-in cheeseburger had the highest amount of lead, 912% higher than what the EPA allows in drinking water.
Arsenic was also detected in 17% of the fast food samples.
The highest level of arsenic was found in Panda Express’s orange chicken and white rice at 362% higher than EPA levels allowed in drinking water.
100% of Fast Food Samples Tested Positive for Heavy Metals, Lead, and Cadmium