MAMAVATION https://mamavation.com/ Mamavation | Healthy Living | Lifestyle | Detoxify Home | Product Recommendations Tue, 12 May 2026 15:21:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://mamavation.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/MV_FaviconBlack_1-01-80x80.png MAMAVATION https://mamavation.com/ 32 32 Mamavation Finds PFAS-Laden Pesticides in Driscoll’s Strawberries https://mamavation.com/food/pfas-pesticides-driscolls-strawberries.html Tue, 12 May 2026 12:46:28 +0000 https://mamavation.com/?p=48374 Mamavation tested organic and conventional strawberries from Driscoll’s for 500+ types of pesticides at our EPA-certified laboratory and found PFAS-laden pesticides, also known as “forever pesticides,” in conventional strawberries. What does this mean, and what should your family do when shopping to ensure your own safety? You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you other investigations like …

The post Mamavation Finds PFAS-Laden Pesticides in Driscoll’s Strawberries appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> Mamavation tested organic and conventional strawberries from Driscoll’s for 500+ types of pesticides at our EPA-certified laboratory and found PFAS-laden pesticides, also known as “forever pesticides,” in conventional strawberries. What does this mean, and what should your family do when shopping to ensure your own safety? You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you other investigations like sourdough breads tested for glyphosate, cooking oils tested for phthalates, and safest teas tested for PFAS, “forever chemicals.” Now join us for our latest investigation on Driscoll’s strawberries and pesticide residue.

Disclosure: Scientific review was performed by Dr. Craig Downs, Executive Director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory. Donations were provided by Environmental Health News and Mamavation community members. Note that Mamavation has only “spot-checked” the industry and thus we cannot make predictions about brands and products that we have not tested. Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice so buyer beware. This post contains affiliate links, with some to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales and we will use that to pay ourselves back for the testing. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Thank you!  

Fresh ripe strawberries covered in PFAS laden pesticides

Mamavation’s Laboratory Finds PFAS-laden Pesticides in Driscoll’s Strawberries

Mamavation sent two boxes of Driscoll’s strawberries from a grocery store in Southern California to our EPA-certified laboratory, requesting testing for 500+ pesticides on Monday, May 4th, 2026. The results were a bit shocking. According to our laboratory, Driscoll’s conventional strawberries contained residues of 12 different pesticides at levels prohibited in the European Union, Taiwan, Chile, Korea & Russia. 8 of those pesticides are considered PFAS “forever chemicals,” meaning they are extremely persistent and highly toxic. These pesticides are also known as “forever pesticides.”

Driscoll’s Conventional Strawberries — 12 pesticides found

PFAS-Laden Pesticides (aka “Forever Pesticides”) Found on Driscoll’s Conventional Strawberries

  • Flonicamid (sum): 32 ppb
  • Fludioxonil: 60 ppb
  • Flupyradifurone: 27 ppb
  • Fluxapyroxad: 26 ppb (limit also exceeds Russian standards)
  • Indoxacarb: 25 ppb (limits also exceed EU, Taiwan & Chile standards)
  • Novaluron: 19 ppb (limits also exceed EU standards)
  • Tetraconazole: 13 ppb
  • TFNG: 35 ppb

Other Types of Pesticides Found on Driscoll’s Conventional Strawberries

  • Cyprodinil: 125 ppb
  • Pyrimethanil: 310 ppb
  • Quinoxyfen: 45 ppb (limit also exceeds Korean standards)
  • Tetrahydrophthalimide (THPI): 302 ppb

Driscoll’s USDA Organic Strawberries

  • Non-detect

group of Fresh organic strawberries fruit

Dr. Craig Downs, Executive Director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, had this to say after his review: “Fluorinated pesticides are a growing source of PFAS contamination in the environment and on and in our foods. There is debate with the U.S. EPA if single fluorinated pesticides are truly Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), but many of the fluorinated pesticides’ metabolites are long-lived to the point they are considered “Forever Chemicals.” These fluorinated pesticides also act like PFAS because they will accumulate in our bodies over the long-term, are associated with cancer risks, reproductive diseases, developmental diseases in children, and cause immune suppression. It would be smart to try to completely avoid being exposed to them.”

Recommendations From Mamavation Advisors

Mamavation advisors recommend you stick to organic strawberries if you want to lower the amount of pesticides and PFAS you consume when purchasing produce. 37% of non-organic produce samples tested by the State of California had traces of PFAS pesticides.

If you are concerned about the pollution caused by nearby pesticide use, the best thing you can do is purchase a water filter for your kitchen tap and an air purifier for your home. You can control what happens inside your home far more than outside your home.

Here’s our recommended water filter brands based on PFAS filtering: 

Here’s our recommended air purifiers: 

 

Ripe Strawberries in Basket Isolated on White Background

PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Have Problematic Health Effects

PFAS “forever chemicals” are problematic for human health and the environment. They are considered ubiquitous, persistent, and toxic. Many of these PFAS chemicals can last for years or decades in our bodies. Therefore, it’s imperative to reduce the amount of PFAS you are exposed to from food, water, and consumer products. Mamavation is dedicated to helping you do that when you are shopping for strawberries.

Here are some of the health effects of different PFAS “forever chemicals.”

It’s also very clear based on biomonitoring evidence from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that PFAS are in all Americans. Therefore, these exposures can harm most Americans.

Strawberries being grown commercially on table top irrigation system.

EWG Finds 14 Million lbs. of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Sprayed on Non-Organic Farmland in California

California produce has a PFAS “forever chemical” problem. Researchers at The Environmental Working Group (EWG) combed through official data from California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation to ascertain how many millions of pounds of pesticides were sprayed on crops in California. After studying all the pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, which are widely used in the state’s most productive farmland, they were able to create an interactive map.

EWG then reviewed data from the California Pesticide Residue Monitoring Report to find which produce was most affected by PFAS contamination according to California’s own testing. They found that almost 40% of non-organic fruits and vegetables grown in California were contaminated with PFAS.

Strawberries are just an example of this problem. In fact, strawberries contained 10 individual PFAS pesticides, more variety than any other crop. We found 8 of them in our own testing, which has just been released.

PFAS-Laden Pesticides in Strawberries

California Legislation to Ban PFAS in Pesticides Needs Your Attention

Right now, the California Assembly’s leadership will decide if AB 1603, a bill that bans PFAS in pesticides, will move forward. This bill will put a stop to the dumping of PFAS pesticides on crops and fields and reduce PFAS contamination of California-grown produce, such as strawberries.

How You Can Help

The full California Assembly needs to hear about your support of AB 1603 in order to pass this important piece of legislation this year.

All California assemblymembers need to receive phone calls ASAP, urging them to support AB 1603 and end PFAS use in pesticides for good!

So please contact your Assemblymember and urge them to support AB 1603 and end PFAS pesticides.

You can find your Assemblymember here.

The post Mamavation Finds PFAS-Laden Pesticides in Driscoll’s Strawberries appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> How Toxic Is Your Hair Dye? Best & Worst Hair Color Brands https://mamavation.com/beauty/hair-dyes.html Fri, 08 May 2026 18:40:21 +0000 https://dev.mamavation.com/?p=25381 Do you hate your gray hairs or just want a change? Hair dyes or hair color are one of the most amazing inventions of all time–it’s a product that makes us feel younger, more confident, and exciting. Naturally, the best way to get rid of that unwanted silver hair is with hair color. But if …

The post How Toxic Is Your Hair Dye? Best & Worst Hair Color Brands appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> Do you hate your gray hairs or just want a change? Hair dyes or hair color are one of the most amazing inventions of all time–it’s a product that makes us feel younger, more confident, and exciting. Naturally, the best way to get rid of that unwanted silver hair is with hair color. But if you’re trying to live a clean or use the best non-toxic hair dye, hair color formulas, for the most part, have a pretty toxic mix of chemicals that are unsafe and, in some cases, may be extremely harmful with regular use. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like safest shampoos, safest cookware & safest deodorants, now join us as we tackle hair dye. And stick around for the end as we have ranked all the hair dye products and best hair color brands, even the ones with vivid colors.

Disclosure: This post was medically evaluated by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN & Rebecca Elizabeth Sherrick Harks, RN.  Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice so buyer beware. This post contains affiliate links, with most to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales and we will use that to pay ourselves back for the testing and research we do here. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Thank you! 

woman getting hair dyed

I’m Just Going to Break it To You–Your Chances of Getting Cancer Increase with Regular Use of Hair Dye

Cancer sucks. There’s nothing happy about it. Most of us know someone who has cancer or knows someone who has lost their lives to cancer. But when it comes to women who regularly use hair dye, those numbers start to go up. Here’s a list of cancers that are linked to regular use of hair dyes. While many debate the overall risk of various cancers and whether they are caused by permanent dye and their ingredients, it seems clear that there is a risk.

Is box hair dye bad? It’s important to put this into perspective and understand that we are surrounded with carcinogens and hormone disruptors all the time. Hair dyes seem to be a bigger exposure to women, but if you improve other areas like cookware, the mattress you sleep on, and shampoo you use, and the type of air purifiers and water filter you have. It lessens the overall impact of your hair dye. In other words, if this is too much for you, start detoxing elsewhere.  

Breast Cancer

A recent study out of Finland surveyed over 6,500 breast cancer patients, ages 22-60, and discovered that the odds of breast cancer increased by 23% among women who used hair dyes when compared to those that did not.

Bladder Cancer

A 2004 study suggested that there might be an increased risk of bladder cancer for people who dye their hair: “Overall, odds ratios (of getting bladder cancer) were somewhat elevated among women who began using hair dye after 1975, used dyes for more than 31 years and who used hair dyes more than 282 times.” Additionally, women who started regularly using hair dye before the age of 37 were also more at risk. While studies like these remain controversial, other studies have shown an increased risk of bladder cancer among professionals who use hair dye in their work (hairdressers and barbers).

Other Cancers

At least one study suggested a possible link between glioma, a type of brain cancer, and hair dye use. It was easy to find several studies linking permanent hair dye and leukemia, as well as at least one linking it to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

girl in black gloves hairdresser mixes hair dye

13 Basic Ingredients Inside Hair Dyes That Are Toxic and Should Be Minimized As Much as Possible

P-Phenylenediamine (PPD)

Used in permanent color, especially darker shades. It may also be contaminated with 4-ABP, a human carcinogen. According to the FDA, this is a skin allergen and irritant. In fact, the FDA does not allow its use on the skin in the form of black henna temporary tattoos.

There is a lot of conflicting and missing data on this particular ingredient, including whether or not it’s banned in Europe, whether the FDA tried to ban it outright and more. It is banned in Canada. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics claims that it has long been suspected to be carcinogenic and may alter DNA when mixed with hydrogen peroxide but to date, the data is not rigorous enough to be conclusive. The EPA also lists it as a respiratory toxin.

Resorcinol

This is an endocrine disrupter that impacts thyroid function. Skin and eye irritant.

Aminophenol

This is a known endocrine disrupter and at least one study has linked it to thyroid tumors.

Process of dyeing hair at beauty salon

Ethanolamines (MEA, TEA, DEA)

Some products contained ethanolamines, which have been shown to cause cancer in animal lab studies. When in use with certain other chemicals, they can form nitrosamines, which are a possible human carcinogen. These chemicals can bioaccumulate, even hair dyes. They also may impact male reproductive health, pregnancies, and possibly damage the liver or kidney and cause neurotoxic effects.

Some products include Cocamide MEA, which is meant to be a safer form of ethanolamine. Unfortunately, it may contain traces of Cocamide DEA, which has the same effect of producing nitrosamines.

1-Naphthol

This is a possible endocrine disruptor. At least one study suggests it may be linked to sperm DNA damage.

Toluene, Toluene-2,5-Diamine, and 4-Amino-2-Hydroxytoluene

According to the CDC, toluene can impact your nervous system. Repeated exposure can lead to permanent problems and scientists are not sure if repeated low exposures will lead to permanent damage. Some studies have also suggested possible reproductive effects, such as spontaneous abortions, but it’s not clear. Toluene itself is the most harmful, but the other versions listed above are not completely safe either.

Quats

Short for ammonium quaternary sanitizers, quats have been linked to medical issues such as harming fertility, causing miscarriages, and severe birth defects in animal studies. Some are also endocrine disruptors. Certain quats can also release formaldehyde, even if the product does not contain any formaldehyde.

Ammonia

This chemical can harm eye, lungs, respiratory tract, and is very toxic for people with asthma or allergies.

Preparation of hair dye

Undisclosed Fragrance with Phthalates

Many hair colors employ undisclosed fragrances, likely to cover up the harsh chemical smell. These fragrances can come thousands of sources, so there is no way to tell what toxins are in them. There were few that did not have this ingredient. One problematic ingredient that could be hiding in “fragrance” is phthalate. Phthalates are an endocrine disruptor linked to cancers, weight gain, and infertility.

SLS/SLES

These surfactants can be an eye irritant. Some debate whether SLS is a carcinogen and other research states it may damage the immune system.

Lead Acetate (in “progressive” hair dye)

In October 2018, the FDA repealed approval for lead acetate as a color additive to hair dye. Progressive hair dyes may contain lead acetate but I did not find any thus far in the brands I checked.

toxic blonde hair dye

Propylene Glycol

This petroleum-based ingredient is often contaminated with carcinogenic compounds such as 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide which can also cause reproductive system toxicity, headache, and nausea.

Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone

These allergens/irritants were found in a few brands. They are potentially neurotoxic and demonstrate organ toxicity in lab studies.

Important Notes About “Coal-Tar” Hair Dyes

Historically, some hair dye ingredients were a by-product of the coal industry. Today, most dyes are synthetic and are petroleum-based, NOT coal-tar based. However, the FDA never changed the name.

Best (& Worst) Non-Toxic Detangler Hair Products 1

Additional Investigations by Mamavation

Are you looking for the safest box hair dye or other safe personal care products? Mamavation has been investigating the personal care aisle for many years and has many additional investigations for you to take a look at.

Personal Care

Feminine Care

Home Goods

chemical hair color dye onto hair roots

Mamavation’s Investigation of Hair Dyes

Mamavation reviewed hundreds of hair dye products for gray coverage, blonde hair, red hair, brown hair, dark hair, and dark brown hair, including temporary, semi-permanent, & permanent formulas. Not all hair dyes promise a natural look or use natural hair colors, but many do. Please use common sense, as many natural ingredients can cause allergic reactions. Do your due diligence and double-check the ingredients yourself.

As you can see, hair color is chock full of harmful ingredients. Almost all brands had at least one or 2 of these chemicals. Others were a whole toxic soup of these, plus many more. Ready to see how your brand was rated? Are brands like L’oreal and Revlon good for your hair? Is Just for Men safe? Let’s take a look.

Not Our Favorite Hair Dye / Hair Color Brands

These brands have five or more problematic ingredients in their formulation. Some of these hair dye brands may advertise themselves as more natural, but to rank higher, they would need to improve their formulations and remove chemicals linked to health issues. For the salon hair dye, Mamavation enlisted community members to visit salons across the United States and document the ingredients for each brand and product. Salon hair dye ingredients are typically not available online. For the home hair dyes, that information was available online, making it easy for us to evaluate.

Salon Hair Dye

  • 360 Permanent Haircolor (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + PPD derivative + 1-naphthol), ethanolamine, sulfates, multiple quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • All-Nutrient Professional Cream Haircolor  (Permanent)[quats, undisclosed fragrance, PTD, resorcinol family, 1-naphthol, 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene, aminophenols, ammonia, PPD derivative]
  • Aloxxi Luminexx Gel Cream Hair Color 5GV (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenols + pyridine + coupler), dual alkalizers (ammonia + ethanolamine), and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Aloxxi Luminexx Gel Cream Hair Color 9NG (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analogs + aminophenols), dual alkalizers (ammonia + ethanolamine), and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Aloxxi TONES Demi-Permanent Colour – all colors (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + aminophenol + pyrazole + coupler), ethanolamine, sulfates, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Areté Alchemic Color 5.3 Light Gold Brown (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analogs + aminophenol + coupler), ethanolamine, quat, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Areté Alchemic Color 9.0 Very Light Natural Blonde (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analogs + aminophenol + coupler), ethanolamine, quat, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Aveda Full Spectrum Permanent Hair Color – Natural series (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol + aminophenols), ammonia, ethanolamine-related (MEA), and fragrance component]
  • CHI Color Express – all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol + aminophenol + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + coupler), ethanolamine, multiple quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • CHI IONIC Permanent Shine – all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol + aminophenol + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + coupler), ethanolamine, multiple quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • CHI Tone & Gloss Demi-Permanent Cream Toner – all colors (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol + aminophenol + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + coupler), ethanolamine, quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Davines A New Color Copper (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + aminophenol + pyridine + pyrazolone), ethanolamine, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Davines A New Color Golden (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenols/cresols + nitro dye + pyridine coupler), ethanolamine, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Davines The Present Time 4,3 (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenols + nitro dye + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + coupler), ethanolamine, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Davines The Present Time 8,0 (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenols + PPD-like + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + coupler), ethanolamine, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Davines View, 3 Golden (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + nitro dyes + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + coupler), ethanolamine, sulfosuccinate surfactant, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • EcoColors Professional Hair Color – all colors (Permanent)[ammonia, PPD-related, PTD, 1-naphthol, resorcinol analog, multiple strong sensitizers, and undisclosed fragrance/essential oils]
  • Eufora EuforaColor 6.0/6N – Low Ammonia [PPD, ammonia, resorcinol, multiple strong sensitizers, quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Eufora EuforaColor 7.0/7N – No Ammonia [PPD, resorcinol, strong sensitizers, ethanolamine, quat, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • evo Hue-Verse Permanent Color –  all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenols + pyrazolone + coupler), ethanolamine, sulfonate surfactant, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • evo Hue-Verse Demi-Permanent Gloss – all colors (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenols + pyrazolone + coupler), ethanolamine, sulfonate surfactant, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Framesi Framcolor 2001 – all colors (Permanent)[PPD, ammonia, resorcinol, strong sensitizers, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Framesi Framcolor 2001 Intense – all colors (Permanent)[massive load of strong sensitizers (PPD + PTD + resorcinol family + 1-naphthol-level couplers + aminophenols + pyridine + nitro-related + PPD derivatives), dual alkalizers (ammonia + ethanolamine), and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Framesi Framcolor 2001 Intense 9.022 Very Light Blonde Blue Quartz (Permanent)[dual alkalizers (ammonia + ethanolamine), PPD, resorcinol family, multiple strong sensitizers]
  • Framesi Framcolor Eclectic CARE (Permanent) – all colors[massive load of strong sensitizers (PPD + PTD + resorcinol family + 1-naphthol + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + pyridine + multiple aminophenols + PPD derivative), ethanolamine, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Framesi Framcolor Futura – all colors (Permanent)[direct hits on PPD, 1-naphthol, 2,6-DAP, resorcinol, toluene diamine, multiple strong sensitizers, ammonia, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Framesi Framcolor Glamour – all colors (Permanent)[ direct hits on PPD, ammonia, sulfates, multiple quats, multiple strong sensitizers (aminophenols + nitro dye), and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Goldwell Topchic Hair Color 6NP Dark Natural Pearl Blonde (Permanent)[dual alkalizers (ammonia + ethanolamine/MEA), PTD, resorcinol family, multiple strong sensitizers, sulfates, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Goldwell Topchic Zero Ammonia-Free Permanent Hair Color 3N Dark Natural Brown (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol + aminophenol + anisole derivative + coupler), ethanolamine, quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Goldwell Topchic Zero Ammonia-Free Permanent Hair Color 8G Light Gold Blonde (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol + aminophenol + coupler), ethanolamine, quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Goldwell SilkLift Light Dimensions Clay Lightener [persulfates + alkaline silicates + quat + fragrance]
  • Innersense Color Purity True Color 7N (Permanent)[ethanolamine + multiple strong sensitizers / restricted oxidative dye precursors/couplers (PTD-like, resorcinol analog, aminophenol, PPD derivative, pyridine coupler)]
  • Jack Winn Envelop Permanent Creme Color – all colors (Permanent)[PPD, ammonia, resorcinol analog, 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene, multiple strong sensitizers, ethanolamine-related, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Jack Winn Restore Demi-Permanent Creme Color 5N Brown (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenols + pyridine coupler), ethanolamine, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Joico LumiShine Lumi10 4N/4.0 Natural Medium Brown (Permanent)[PPD, 1-naphthol, resorcinol, multiple strong sensitizers, ammonia, quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Joico LumiShine Lumi10 8N/8.0 Natural Blonde (Permanent)[PPD, 1-naphthol, resorcinol, multiple strong sensitizers, ammonia, quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Joico LumiShine Demi-Permanent Liquid Color – all colors (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PPD + resorcinol family + aminophenols), ethanolamine derivatives, quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Joico Vero K-PAK Permanent Crème Color – all colors (Permanent)[direct hits on PPD, 1-naphthol, resorcinol, multiple strong sensitizers, ammonia, quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Joico Vero K-PAK Age Defy Permanent Crème Color – all colors (Permanent)[direct hits on PPD, 1-naphthol, resorcinol, multiple strong sensitizers, ammonia, multiple quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Kenra Kenra Color Permanent Coloring Creme – all colors (Permanent)[dual alkalizers (ammonia + ethanolamine), PTD, resorcinol, multiple strong sensitizers, quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Kenra Kenra Color Studio Stylist Express Permanent Coloring Creme – all colors (Permanent)[dual alkalizers (ammonia + ethanolamine), PTD, resorcinol family, multiple strong sensitizers, sulfates, quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Keune So Pure Color 6.00 Dark Blonde (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenol + coupler), ethanolamine, and a complex undisclosed fragrance]
  • Keune Tinta Color – generic ingredients for all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol + aminophenol-related + anisole derivative + coupler), ammonia, MEA/ethanolamine-related, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Kevin Murphy + CODE Permanent Hair Color – all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenols + coupler), ammonia, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Kevin Murphy Color.Me By Permanent Hair Color 8.00 LIGHT.BLONDE.INTENSE (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenol + coupler), ethanolamine, sulfate, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Kevin Murphy Color.Me By Permanent Hair Color 9.00 VERY.LIGHT.BLONDE.INTENSE (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenols + anisole derivative), ethanolamine, sulfate, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • L’ANZA Healing Color Paraben + PPD Free Cream Hair Color [ammonia, resorcinol, PTD, 1-naphthol, PPD derivative, multiple strong sensitizers, quat, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Lakmé Chroma Ammonia-Free Permanent Hair Color – all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + coupler), ethanolamine, quat, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Lakmé Collage Permanent Hair Color – all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol + aminophenol + PPD derivatives + couplers), ammonia, quat, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Linange Diamond Permanent Hair Color Cream – all colors (Permanent)[direct hits on PPD, ammonia, 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene, strong sensitizers, quat, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Linange Sapphire Demi Permanent Color Cream – all colors (Demi Permanent)[ethanolamine (alkalizer), quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • L’Oréal Professionnel iNOA No Ammonia Permanent Color – all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + PPD derivatives + aminophenol + pyridine coupler), ethanolamine, and sulfates]
  • L’Oréal Professionnel Majirel Permanent Color – all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol + aminophenol + coupler), ammonia compounds, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • L’Oréal Professionnel DIA Richesse Demi-Permanent Color – all colors (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol + aminophenol + PPD derivative + couplers), ethanolamine, quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Matrix SoColor Pre-Bonded Permanent Hair Color – all colors (Permanent)[direct hits on PPD, resorcinol, multiple strong sensitizers, ammonia + ethanolamine, quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Matrix SoColor Sync Pre-Bonded Alkaline Toner – all colors (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + PPD derivative + aminophenol + couplers), ethanolamine, dual quats, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Matrix Super Sync Glossing Alkaline Demi – all colors (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + aminophenol + coupler), ethanolamine, quat, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Milbon SOPHISTONE Permanent Color 5G (5/3) (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenol + nitro dye), ammonia, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Milbon SOPHISTONE Permanent Color 9N (9/0) (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenol + nitro dye), ammonia, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Milbon SOPHISTONE Demi Color 5G (5/3) (Demi Permanent)[PPD, HC Red 3, resorcinol, multiple strong sensitizers, ethanolamine, sulfonate surfactant, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Milbon SOPHISTONE Demi Color 9N (9/0) (Demi Permanent)[direct hits on PPD, HC Red 3, resorcinol analog, multiple strong sensitizers, ethanolamine, fragrance, and a harsh surfactant]
  • Moroccanoil Color Rhapsody Permanent Cream Color –  all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenols + coupler), ammonia, quat, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Moroccanoil Color Rhapsody 10 Permanent Cream Color 4NB/4.01 Medium Natural Ash Brown (Permanent)[direct hits on PPD, resorcinol, multiple strong sensitizers, ammonia compounds, harsh alkali, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Moroccanoil Color Rhapsody 10 Permanent Cream Color 9N/9.0 Very Light Blonde (Permanent)[direct hits on PPD, resorcinol, multiple strong sensitizers, ammonia compounds, harsh alkali, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Moroccanoil Color Rhapsody Ultimates Permanent Cream Color – all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenol + coupler), ammonia, quat, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Moroccanoil Color Calypso Demi-Permanent Cream Color – all colors (Demi Permanent)[PPD, resorcinol, 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene, multiple strong sensitizers, quats, undisclosed fragrance, and a harsh alkali]
  • Moroccanoil Color Calypso Demi-Permanent Gloss – all colors (Demi Permanent)[PPD, resorcinol, 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene, multiple strong sensitizers, quats, undisclosed fragrance, and a harsh alkali]
  • NATULIQUE Natural Colors Permanent Ammonia-Free Hair Coloring 2.07 Carbon [PPD (highest-risk on your list), HC Red 3, resorcinol family, PTD, 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene, multiple strong sensitizers, ethanolamine, sulfate, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • NATULIQUE Natural Colors Permanent Ammonia-Free Hair Coloring 7.0 Natural Blonde [PPD (highest-risk allergen on your list), 1-naphthol, resorcinol, multiple strong sensitizers, ethanolamine, sulfate, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • NATULIQUE ZERO Hair Colors Permanent Ammonia-Free Hair Coloring (PPD-free)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenols + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + anisole derivative), ethanolamine, sulfate, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • NATULIQUE ZERO Hair Colors Permanent Ammonia-Free Hair Coloring (PPD-free) 9.0 Very Light Blonde [multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenols + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + anisole derivative), ethanolamine, sulfate, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • NATULIQUE Natural Colors Demi-Permanent Liquid Ammonia-Free Colors [PPD (highest-risk allergen), resorcinol, multiple aminophenols, DEA (ethanolamine-related), and undisclosed fragrance]
  • O&M CØR.color 6.03 Dark Beige Blonde [multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenols), ethanolamine, sulfate, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • O&M CØR.color 7.0 Blonde [multiple oxidative dye precursors/couplers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenol + coupler), ethanolamine, sulfate, and fragrance]
  • Organic Color Systems Permanent Color Gel – all colors (Permanent)[strong sensitizers (PPD + PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenols + NPPD + nitro dyes + pyridine + pyrazole), ethanolamine, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Oway Hcolor 9.0 Natural Very Light Blonde [(PPD + PTD + NPPD + resorcinol family + 1-naphthol + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + ethanolamine + quat + fragrance + multiple strong sensitizers)]
  • OYA Permanent Hair Color – all colors (Permanent)[dense cluster of strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenol + anisole derivative), ammonia, sulfate, quat, and fragrance allergens]
  • OYA Demi-Permanent Hair Color – all colors (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol + aminophenol + anisole derivative), ethanolamine, sulfate, dual quats, and fragrance allergens]
  • Paul Mitchell The Color Permanent Cream Hair Color – all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PPD + resorcinol analogs + aminophenol-like + coupler), dual alkalizers (ammonia + ethanolamine), and fragrance components]
  • Paul Mitchell The Demi Demi-Permanent Hair Color – all colors (Demi Permanent)[ multiple strong sensitizers (PPD + resorcinol + aminophenol + nitro dye + pyridine), sulfate, alkalizer, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • PRAVANA ChromaSilk Permanent Creme Hair Color 5N Light Brown (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol family + aminophenols/cresols), ammonia, fragrance allergens, & quats]
  • PRAVANA ChromaSilk Permanent Creme Hair Color 10N Extra Light Blonde (Permanent)[multiple direct banned-or-heavily-restricted strong sensitizers (PPD itself + toluene diamine + resorcinol + aminophenols), ammonia, fragrance allergens, & quats]
  • PRAVANA ChromaSilk Express Tones After Dark Neutral Pearl – Brunette (Demi Permanent)[dense cluster of oxidative dye precursors/couplers (many explicit or strong sensitizers), resorcinol analogs, ethanolamine, fragrance allergens, and quats]
  • Pulp Riot FACTION8 Permanent Color – all colors (Permanent) [multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenols + coupler), dual alkalizers (ammonia + ethanolamine), and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Redken Color Gels Oils – all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol-level couplers + aminophenols + PPD derivative + pyridine), ethanolamine, and potential fragrance components]
  • R+Co R+COLOR OMNIPRESENT Liqui-Crème Permanent Color – all colors (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenol), ammonia, and quats]
  • R+Co R+COLOR STAR SIGN Demi-Permanent Crème Color – all colors (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenol + PPD derivative + coupler), ethanolamine, and quats]
  • R+Co R+COLOR STELLAR Demi-Permanent Liquid Hair Color – all colors (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenol + PPD derivative + coupler + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene), ethanolamine, and quats]
  • R+Co R+COLOR HYPERMATIC 10 Minute Demi-Permanent Liquid Color VA10 Mallow (Demi Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + p-aminophenol + couplers), ethanolamine, and two quats]
  • Schwarzkopf IGORA Color10 Natural Brown 5-0 [harsh dual alkalizers, strong sensitizers (Toluenes, Direct PTD/TDS, 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl + m-Aminophenol ), sulfates, Direct resorcinol + analog, undisclosed fragrance, & quats]
  • Schwarzkopf IGORA ROYAL Color Creme 4-68 Medium Auburn Brown (Permanent) [ammonia + dual sulfates + resorcinol family + PTD + quats + fragrance]
  • Schwarzkopf IGORA ROYAL Color Creme 9-0 Extra Light Blonde (Permanent) [ammonia + multiple sulfates + resorcinol family + PTD + quats + fragrance allergens + strong sensitizers]
  • Schwarzkopf IGORA ZERO AMM Ammonia-Free Color Creme 5-88 Light Brown Red Extra (Permanent) [multiple oxidative dye precursors (PTD + direct 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene + aminophenol + pyrazole sensitizer), sulfate surfactant, and ethanolamine]
  • Schwarzkopf IGORA ZERO AMM Ammonia-Free Color Creme 9-0 Extra Light Blonde Natural (Permanent) [(PTD + resorcinol family + multiple aminophenols/cresols), sulfate surfactant, and ethanolamine]
  • Schwarzkopf IGORA VIBRANCE 4-0 Medium Brown Natural (Demi Permanent) [dense cluster of oxidative dye precursors/couplers (many explicit on your list or strong sensitizers), resorcinol family, ethanolamine, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Scruples True Integrity Opalescent Creme Color – all colors (Permanent or Demi)[dual alkalizers (ammonia + ethanolamine) make it especially harsh, combined with PTD (strong sensitizer) and other restricted oxidative ingredients + fragrance + a quat]
  • Scruples Color Art Fresh Demi-Permanent Liquid Haircolor – all colors (Demi Permanent)[clusters of oxidative sensitizers + ethanolamine + sulfate + quat + fragrance allergens]
  • Surface Pure Color Hy-Demi Gel Color, 4N Natural – Dark Roast [multiple oxidative dye ingredients (strong sensitizers + restricted EU substances), resorcinol, ethanolamine, and fragrance]
  • Surface Pure Color Hy-Demi Gel Color, 7C Copper – Spice [multiple oxidative dye precursors that are either explicitly listed or strong sensitizers in the PPD/aminophenol family, plus ethanolamine and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Tocco Magico Freelux Color – all colors (Permanent) [multiple oxidative dye precursors/couplers (PTD/TDS), banned in the EU (2-chloro-p-phenylenediamine sulfate), strong sensitizers (PPD derivatives, resorcinol analog, ethanolamine (alkalizer) + & undisclosed fragrance]
  • Wella Koleston Perfect Me+ Permanent Creme Hair Color 3/0 Dark Brown/Natural (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PPD derivative + resorcinol + aminophenol-like + pyrazole + coupler), ammonia, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Wella Koleston Perfect Me+ Permanent Creme Hair Color 9/1 Very Light Blonde/Ash (Permanent)[multiple strong sensitizers (PPD derivative + resorcinol + aminophenol + coupler), ammonia, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • yuv Permanent & Demi Colour Cream – all colors [strong sensitizers (MEPPD, PPD, m-Aminophenol, p-Aminophenol, 4-Amino-m-cresol, 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl, 5-Amino-6-chloro-o-cresol), 1-Naphthol, Resorcinol analog, ammonia, & undisclosed fragrance]

Home Hair Dye Brands

  • Clairol Nice’n Easy Permanent Hair Color [Ammonia, sulfates, strong sensitizers (PPD, aminophenol family, 2-4-diaminophenoxyethanol HCL), resorcinol, & undisclosed fragrances]
  • Garnier Olia (Ammonia-Free) Permanent Hair Color [Ethanolamine, sulfates, resorcinol, PTD/TDS, and other strong sensitizers, & undisclosed fragrances]
  • Herbatint 9N Honey Blonde [PPD, resorcinol analogs, multiple strong sensitizers (aminophenols), ethanolamine, and a quat]
  • IGK Permanent Hair Color Kit [Ethanolamine, Toluene-2,5-Diamine Sulfate (PTD), resorcinol analogs, m-Aminophenol, p-Aminophenol, 2-Amino-3-Hydroxypyridine, 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl, & other Multiple strong sensitizers + PPD-like chemistry, & undisclosed fragrances]
  • John Frieda Precision Foam Colour [Direct ammonia chemicals, strong sensitizers (toluene-2,5-diamine sulfate), resorcinol, ethoxylated surfactants, & undisclosed fragrances]
  • Just for Men Touch of Gray [multiple strong sensitizers from the PPD/aminophenol family + undisclosed fragrance]
  • Kristin Ess Signature Hair Gloss (example: Chocolate Cosmo or similar)[Ethanolamine. sulfates, strong sensitizers (PTD/TDS, aminophenol family chemicals, resorcinol +analog, 1-naphthol, & undisclosed fragrance]
  • L’Oréal Paris Excellence Crème Permanent Hair Color [ammonia chemicals, ethanolamine chemicals, quats, undisclosed fragrances, multiple strong sensitizers (P-Phenylenediamine, Resorcinol, m-Aminophenol, 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl, resorcinol)]
  • Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color Kit [ethanolamine chemicals, strong sensitizers (toluene, P-aminophenol), resorcinol analogs, & undisclosed fragrances.]
  • Natulique Natural Colour 7.0 Medium Blonde [multiple strong sensitizers (PPD + resorcinol family + aminophenols + 1-naphthol), ethanolamine, sulfate, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Naturgin Permanent Hair Color 4.0 Brown [sulfates, ethanolamine, strong sensitizers (PPD, multiple aminophenols, resorcinol analogs) & undisclosed fragrance]
  • Naturtint 1N Ebony Black Permanent Hair Color [sulfates, ethanolamine, strong sensitizers (PPD, p-Aminophenol, 4-Amino-2-Hydroxytoluene, 2-Methylresorcinol, 2-Amino-4-Hydroxyethylaminoanisole Sulfate), resorcinol, & undisclosed fragrance]
  • Phytocolor (Phyto) Permanent Hair Color (example: 4 Brown)[multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenols + PPD derivative + 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene), ethanolamine, quat, and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Pulpriot Faction8 Double Natural [multiple strong sensitizers (PTD + resorcinol analog + aminophenols + coupler), dual alkalizers (ammonia + ethanolamine), and undisclosed fragrance]
  • Revlon ColorSilk (or Beautiful Color with Bond Repair)[ethanolamine chemicals, strong sensitizers, resorcinol, aminophenols, undisclosed fragrance]
  • Tints of Nature Permanent Color 3N [ethanolamine chemicals, extreme sensitizer (PPD), resorcinol analogs, n-phenyl-phenylenediamine (NPPD), m-Aminophenol + 2-Amino-4-Hydroxyethylaminoanisole Sulfate, & undisclosed fragrance]

toxic hair dye application

Better Hair Dye/ Hair Color Brands

These brands contain 3-5 problematic ingredients in their formulations. While these likely aren’t the best hair dye brands, this is the sweet spot where you will find a compromise between your health and effectiveness. For the salon hair dye, Mamavation enlisted community members to visit salons across the United States and document the ingredients for each brand and product. Salon hair dye ingredients are typically not available online. For the home hair dyes, that information was available online, making it easy for us to evaluate. You’ll notice lighter colors typically land here in the “better” zone.

Salon Hair Dyes

  • Lakmé Glaze Demi-Permanent Hair Color (Demi Permanent)[quats, undisclosed fragrance, & ethoxylated ingredients]
  • Wella Color Touch Ammonia-Free Demi-Permanent Cream Hair Color – all colors (Demi Permanent)[combination of ethanolamine, sulfates, and undisclosed fragrance]

Home Hair Dye Brands

  • Arctic Fox (permanent)[multiple quats, undisclosed fragrance, strong sensitizer preservatives (MI/MCI), and cationic dyes]
  • Arctic Fox (Semi-permanent)[multiple quats, undisclosed fragrance, strong sensitizer preservatives (MI/MCI), and shade-dependent basic dyes]
  • Beyond the Zone Color (Semi Permanent) [quats + undisclosed fragrance]
  • Davines [quats + undisclosed fragrance]
  • Good Dye Young Hair Color (semi-permanent)[multiple quats, undisclosed fragrance]
  • Lime Crime [multiple quats, undisclosed fragrance, strong sensitizer preservatives (MI/MCI]
  • L’Oréal Paris Feria [paraben, quats, undisclosed fragrance]
  • Overtone [multiple quats]
  • Sun-In [quats + undisclosed fragrance]
  • Tints of Nature [multiple quats, undisclosed fragrance & triethanolamine]

Beautiful young woman with red dyed hair

Best Hair Dye / Hair Color Brands

These brands have the fewest problematic ingredients in their formulations. However, these formulations are ammonia- and paraben-free and are among the least toxic hair colors we could find. For the salon hair dye, Mamavation enlisted community members to visit salons across the United States and document the ingredients for each brand and product. Salon hair dye ingredients are typically not available online. For the home hair dyes, that information was available online, making it easy for us to evaluate.

Salon Hair Dyes

  • Goldwell Elumen Long Lasting Hair Color Oxidant-Free NN@5 (Permanent)[undisclosed fragrance]
  • Goldwell Elumen Long Lasting Hair Color Oxidant-Free BR@6 (Permanent)[undisclosed fragrance]
  • Goldwell Elumen Long Lasting Hair Color Oxidant-Free NN@9 (Permanent)[undisclosed fragrance]

Home Hair Dye Brands

The post How Toxic Is Your Hair Dye? Best & Worst Hair Color Brands appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> Sea Salt & Himalayan Salt Tested For Heavy Metals Like Lead & Microplastics — Guide https://mamavation.com/food/sea-salt-himalayan-salt-heavy-metals-lead.html Mon, 04 May 2026 15:47:46 +0000 https://mamavation.com/?p=41645 What are the levels of heavy metals and microplastics found inside your favorite sea salt and Himalayan salt products? This was the question Mamavation community members asked us and we didn’t know the answer, so we sent 23 popular salt products [with more added later] off to an EPA-certified laboratory to find out. Do you …

The post Sea Salt & Himalayan Salt Tested For Heavy Metals Like Lead & Microplastics — Guide appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> What are the levels of heavy metals and microplastics found inside your favorite sea salt and Himalayan salt products? This was the question Mamavation community members asked us and we didn’t know the answer, so we sent 23 popular salt products [with more added later] off to an EPA-certified laboratory to find out. Do you want to know how high the levels of heavy metals & microplastics are in your favorite sea salt or Himalayan salt? You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like the safest butter without toxic PFAS packaging, the safest cookware sans PFAS and nanoparticles, & safest water purifiers to filter PFAS “forever chemicals,” now join us for the results of 23 salt products sent to the lab testing for metals aluminum & arsenic, & heavy metals cadmium, mercury, and lead & microplastics.

Disclosure: Scientific reviews were performed by (1) Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry & Director of the Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University & (2) Pete Myers, Chief Scientist at Environmental Health Sciences, Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, and Co-Author of Our Stolen Future. This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. Donations were provided by Mamavation community members. Note that Mamavation has only “spot-checked” the industry and thus we cannot make predictions about brands and products that were not tested in our EPA-certified laboratory. Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice so buyer beware. This post contains affiliate links, with most to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales and we will use that to pay ourselves back for the testing. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Thank you! [update: this investigation has had additional products added for more variety.]

Sea Salt with heavy metals in a wooden bowl

Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium & Lead Found in Salt Brands

According to the American Heart Association, the average American consumes about 3,400 milligrams per day of salt, whereas the dietary guidelines recommends we consume less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium daily. Americans are getting most of their sodium from processed foods, and therefore, if you are cooking and eating your meals from home in your own kitchen, you can greatly reduce those levels. It’s claimed that “eating less sodium can reduce your risk for high blood pressure, fluid retention, heart disease, stroke, kidney issues, osteoporosis and cancer.” This is why we highly recommend you cook most of your meals from scratch with ingredients that are minimally processed. But what about the quality of salt you are using? Some metals that are known or suspected toxicants & microplastics are already known to be inside salt but at what levels? This is the question we attempted to answer to help our audience lower their sodium intake while also lowering their intake of heavy metals and microplastics.

Mamavation sent 23 salt products off to an EPA-certified laboratory to test for aluminum, arsenic, and heavy metals cadmium, mercury & lead and microplastics. The good news is no salt product came back with the equivalent levels that would require a Prop. 65 warning based on serving size per day. (Update: 9/2025 we found a brand that may need a Prop.65 warning) In addition, no salt product had high enough microplastics that could be conclusively recognized through FTIR testing. The bad news was all salt products had detectable amounts of the subject metals present. Mamavation has done our best to share with you what our laboratory found so that if you are concerned about clearly toxic or potentially toxic metals inside your salt, you’ll be able to make an educated decision when shopping. Here’s what we found:

  • The light metal, aluminum, was found in 78% of the salt products. 35% of salt products had over 100,000 ppb of aluminum.
  • Arsenic was found in 100% of salt products. 74% of salt products had over 10 ppb of arsenic.
  • Cadmium was found in 70% of salt products. 4% of salt products had over 4.1 ppb of cadmium.
  • Mercury was NOT found in any salt products.
  • Lead was found in 96% of salt products. 
  • Microplastics were so minute they could not be conclusively detected and recognized via Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopic imaging for any sample.
[Update: Additional salt products were added to this investigation from popular demand since it was originally released. We did not adjust the copy above.]

Salt on wooden background

Federal vs. California Prop. 65 “Safe Harbor” Levels For Heavy Metals like Lead & Arsenic

So what levels of lead, arsenic, mercury, & cadmium are concerning to public health officials? According to the Food & Drug Administration, the levels inside your food that you are allowed to be exposed to are as follows:

  • Heavy metals as lead (as Pb), should not be in your food or supplements at more than 10 parts per million (ppm)
  • Arsenic (as As), should not be in your food or supplement at more than 3 parts per million (ppm)
  • Mercury (as Hg), should not be in your food or supplements at more than 1 part per million (ppm)
  • Cadmium levels (as Cd) in bottled water should not exceed 0.005 parts per million (ppm)

When it comes to protecting consumers, California has far more stringent health protective levels, but instead of banning products, they require manufacturers to use label warnings instead. California’s Prop. 65 established “safe harbor levels” for most of the heavy metals we tested: arsenic, cadmium, lead, & mercury. Prop. 65 requires businesses to provide warnings to consumers living in California about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. These chemicals can be in the products they purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or released into the environment. By requiring this information to be provided, it enables consumers in California to make informed decisions about their exposure to these chemicals.

Here are the No Significant Risk Levels (NSRL) and the Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADL) established by the State of California for the heavy metals we tested:

  • Arsenic: 0.06 ug/day (inhalation), 10 ug/day (except inhalation)
  • Cadmium: 0.05 ug/day (inhalation), 4.1 ug/day (oral)
  • Lead: 0.5 ug/day level for reproductive toxicity, 15 ug/day (oral) for carcinogens
  • Mercury: no established levels (and therefore no seafood would require a warning)
  • Aluminum: no established levels (and therefore no salt products would require a warning)

The most difficult part to understand about Prop. 65 is it’s not about the actual test results. Defendents must prove that the average person would consume enough to the product in a 70 year period to cause cancer or reproductive harm. If that contaminate is “naturally occurring” like so many heavy metals are in the soil (especially in modern times from agricultural pesticides in the case of arsenic and lead and the myriad other uses of lead such as its now terminated use as a combustion promoter in gasoline), a company can avoid having to provide a warning label. Therefore, it’s complicated and difficult to understand unless you have good attorneys by your side to explain.

Sea salt with the inscription "salt" on a dark background, selective focus

Aluminum in Food & Standards Set in Europe

Aluminum can come from natural sources as it makes up 8% of the earth’s mass. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) considers aluminum used as an indirect additive in food “generally regarded as safe.” Thus aluminum compounds are used in many ways in American food production as preservatives, as color dyes, anti-caking agents, or for leavening breads without active yeast. It’s possible aluminum could be finding its way into salt in various levels as an anti-caking agent, which would help prevent it from clumping. However, not all of these products disclosed the use of aluminum as a food additive if they were using it.

The amount of aluminum from indirect food additives varies from person to person based on what you are eating, however, it’s assumed to be anywhere from 0 to 95 milligrams per day for Americans. The United States does not have any standards for aluminum in food that we could find. We could, however, find tolerable weekly intakes from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) & the World Health Organization (WHO) based on the precautionary principle.

  • Based on the combined evidence from several studies, EFSA has recommended a tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 1 mg aluminum/kg body weight/week. Thus using EFSA’s estimate, a person weighing 150 lbs. can tolerate up to the equivalent of 68 mg of aluminum per week.
  • More recently, in 2011, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) reviewed scientific evidence which increased their confidence in the risk assessment, and thus WHO experts established an increased Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) of 2 mg/kg body weight. This means, according to the WHO, someone who weighs 150 lbs. could safely 136 mg per week.

Because you are also getting aluminum inside other foods like baked goods with flour, beans, condiments, cereals, cheese sauces, root vegetables, & certain seafood, it may be possible, especially for people with bad kidneys, that you could be consuming more than a safe recommendation. In reflection of the Precautionary Principle, we’ve tested salt for aluminum for you as well to help you make those decisions yourself on where you would like your dietary aluminum to come from.

Bowl of sea salt flakes, with small wooden spoon.

How Do Heavy Metals Find Themselves in Salt?

So how do heavy metals (aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, mercury & lead) find their way into salt? Officially, we are not certain brand by brand, but here are some theories based on how other food products are contaminated:

  • Naturally Occurring: Heavy metals are naturally present in the soil in different concentrations based on the geology of the land. For instance, more cadmium is found in certain soils in South America and less in certain African soils. This may be why we consistently found higher heavy metals in Himalayan salts vs. most sea salts because Himalayan salt is dug out of the ground mostly in Pakistan, which is also known to have higher levels of Cadmium in the soil. However, it is to be remembered that Himalayan sea salt is thought to have been laid down in the Permian Epoch more than 250 million years ago so the metal content reflects that truly ancient environment.
  • Legacy Pesticide Use: For many decades, heavy metals were added to pesticides as an adjuvants, or were key components of pesticide toxicity such as with lead arsenate used as a pesticide in orchards and can still be found in soils with a history of certain pesticide use. Thus, runoff from farm use could find its way into sea salt.
  • Manufacturing Contamination: Heavy metals can be found in many manufacturing situations, for example, as equipment is used dust from abrasion can contaminate food and personal care products that way. When salt is processed, the manufacturing equipment itself could pose a contamination risk.
  • Storage: In places where heavy metals are present in the soil, storing and drying certain salts outside can present a contamination risk. Dark chocolate is known to be contaminated this way.
  • Air Pollution: Heavy metals can start as air pollution from manufacturing byproducts from polluted industrial areas and can find their way into other parts of the world through the wind and through bodies of water. For example, mercury originally found in coal is released into the air when coal is burned. Downwind it falls to the earth and is converted to methyl mercury, which moves up the food chain contaminating fish, including tuna. We were happy to see that mercury was non-detect for all samples of salt.
  • Food Additives: Some food additives could be contaminated with heavy metals, or as in the case with aluminum, could itself be a food additive.

Glass salt shaker, wooden Cup and spoon on the table. Ground stone sea salt.

Investigation of Salts for Heavy Metals & Raw Data

To recap, Mamavation sent 23 salt products to an EPA-certified lab testing for aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, mercury & lead. 100% of salt products had detectable amounts of heavy metals and those levels and types of heavy metals varied. Here’s a couple of notes to consider before reading the raw data:

  • The laboratory also looked for microplastics by using Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopic imaging. Microplastics were found, but they were not in high enough levels for the test to conclusively recognize what type of microplastics they were.
  • Parts per billion is ppb and parts per million is ppm.
  • 1 ppm = 1,000 ppb
  • MRL means Maximum Residue Levels which meant that the lab could detect some metals, but it was so low they could not measure the exact amount.

We divided the 23 salt products into 3 categories according to contamination levels. These levels reflect the overall levels of heavy metal contamination in each product but do not follow specific government recommendations.

(Update: Several salt brands have been added to this investigation since it was originally released. Latest additions were 9/2025.)

Steak with kosher salt without heavy metals

Salt Brands Tested by Mamavation

  • Artisan Salt Company
  • Manischewitz
  • McCormick
  • Redmond Real Salt
  • San Francisco Salt Company
  • Celtic Sea Salt
  • Shaun Himalayan Salt
  • The Spice Lab
  • Trader Joe’s
  • Wellesley Farms
  • Baja Gold
  • Colima Sea Salt
  • Crucial Four
  • Natierra
  • Spring Salt
  • Badia
  • Santé Naturelle
  • Frontier Co-op
  • Seasonello
  • Terrasoul Superfoods
  • Watkins
  • Vera Salt
  • Himala Salt
  • Salt of Life
  • Himalayan Chef
  • David’s Kosher Salt
  • Diamond Crystal
  • Hain Pure Foods
  • Jacobsen Salt Co.
  • Maldon
  • Morton
  • Saltverk
  • Eupherbia
  • Burlap & Barrel
  • Selina Naturally
  • Diaspora Company
  • Kasandrinos
  • Kirkland
  • Henlopen
  • Moyi Delice

Become a Member and get Free Access to the complete buying guide with detailed test results for every brand.

The post Sea Salt & Himalayan Salt Tested For Heavy Metals Like Lead & Microplastics — Guide appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> Sourdough Bread Tested for Glyphosate — Guide https://mamavation.com/food/sourdough-bread-glyphosate.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:40:00 +0000 https://mamavation.com/?p=46226 Which sourdough bread at the grocery store does NOT have detectable glyphosate, a very common toxic herbicide? Glyphosate is the active ingredient in “Roundup Ready” GMO crops and has been linked with cancer. If you want to avoid glyphosate and other hormone-disrupting chemicals, Mamavation is your one-stop shop for the safest food and products online. …

The post Sourdough Bread Tested for Glyphosate — Guide appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> Which sourdough bread at the grocery store does NOT have detectable glyphosate, a very common toxic herbicide? Glyphosate is the active ingredient in “Roundup Ready” GMO crops and has been linked with cancer. If you want to avoid glyphosate and other hormone-disrupting chemicals, Mamavation is your one-stop shop for the safest food and products online. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like (1) safest cooking oils tested for phthalates, (2) safest coffee tested for pesticides & PFAS, (3) safest tea tested for PFAS, and (4) women’s multivitamins tested for pesticides, PFAS, heavy metals, & phthalates, now join us as we bring you sourdough bread tested for glyphosate.

Disclosure: This consumer study is released in partnership with Environmental Health News. Scientific review was done by Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry & Director of the Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University. Donations were provided by Environmental Health News and Mamavation community members. Note that Mamavation has only “spot-checked” the industry and thus we cannot make predictions about brands and products that we have not tested. Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice, so buyer beware. This post contains affiliate links, most of which are to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales, and we will use that to pay ourselves back for the testing. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Thank you!  All Mamavation testing data is proprietary. If you’re interested in referencing our data on your website or app, please reach out to discuss licensing agreements. Copyright © 2026 Mamavation — All Rights Reserved

Sourdough Bread baking

Glyphosate–A Powerful Toxic Herbicide That Has Taken Over World

Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] is the active ingredient in glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) and is also the most popular herbicide in the world. Its environmental presence increased sharply after the introduction of “Roundup Ready” crops in 1996, which allowed glyphosate to be sprayed onto crops without killing them. Beyond agriculture, glyphosate is extensively used in landscaping, roadside maintenance, golf courses, and vegetation control in fire-prone areas.

Environmental exposure to this broad-based herbicide has increased dramatically since the introduction of “Round-up Ready” genetically modified (GMO) crops in 1996 for soybean, maize, and cotton varieties. “Round-up Ready” genetically modified crops made it possible to utilize glyphosate as a broadcast herbicide while not killing the crops they were sprayed on. Glyphosate is also extensively used in deforestation efforts, such as killing brush in fire zones, and is relied on heavily by landscapers to kill weeds in green belts and on golf courses. Ultimately, glyphosate is used to eliminate weeds and shrubs, including annual and perennial grasses, broadleaf weeds, and woody species.

Glyphosate is applied in a variety of forms: isopropylamine salt, ammonium salt, diammonium salt, dimethylammonium salt, and potassium salt. Thus, it’s important to understand that when glyphosate is applied to crops or weeds, it includes additional adjuvants in the formulation that make it more toxic and thus easier for plants to take up. These glyphosate formulations have also proven toxic to humans. However, companies don’t have to publicly disclose other proprietary chemicals in these herbicide formulations; therefore, regulators and researchers can’t fully study them to determine their health effects.

Glyphosate was originally patented as a chelator and an antibiotic, which means it binds minerals and interferes with microbial systems. These properties have fueled concern that long-term exposure may disrupt nutrient absorption, alter the gut microbiota, and increase antibiotic resistance. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen, and California lists it under Proposition 65 for cancer and reproductive harm.

Because glyphosate is not an intentionally added ingredient, it does not appear on food labels. However, its absence from ingredient panels does not guarantee absence from the product itself. Contamination can occur through agricultural practices, raw material sourcing, manufacturing, transportation, or storage—making independent testing a critical safeguard.

Rustic bread and wheat on a traditional cloth

Mamavation Finds Glyphosate in Sourdough Bread

To evaluate potential exposure, Mamavation sent eight sourdough breads to an EPA-certified laboratory for testing. Samples were analyzed for glyphosate using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with a detection limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb), the lowest level routinely achievable in standardized commercial testing. While some academic laboratories may reach lower limits, those methods are not widely available or standardized for consumer product screening.

Here are the main findings:

  • 75% of sourdough breads contained detectable glyphosate. That’s 6 out of 8 sourdough breads.
  • 67% of USDA organic sourdough breads contained detectable glyphosate. That’s 2 out of 3 USDA organic brands.
  • 87% of products had less than 100 ppb glyphosate. Only one product had over 100 ppb glyphosate.
  • Most products had less than 40 ppb of glyphosate, which leads us to believe we are dealing with issues related to drift or cross-contamination and not direct application of glyphosate.

Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry & Director of the Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, had this to say after his scientific review:

“For now, this small-scale testing of sourdough breads underscores how difficult it has become to avoid Glyphosate entirely. I find it encouraging that two of the eight samples showed no detectable levels; if available, I would preferentially choose those brands as a modest way to reward better practices while reducing exposure for my family and others.

At the same time, the findings point to a less appreciated issue. Certain formulations have used Dimethylamine to form glyphosate salts that enhance delivery into plants. Because glyphosate is systemic, a portion can reach the wheat endosperm—the “flesh” of the grain—meaning that even refined white flour may carry low-level residues. This raises the possibility that such formulations could incidentally introduce dimethylamine into the food chain.

Dimethylamine is not itself carcinogenic, but it can form the carcinogenic nitrosamine N-Nitrosodimethylamine under conditions that can arise during food processing. On that basis, the presence of dimethylamine in food-crop supply chains warrants careful evaluation and, where feasible, minimization as a precautionary measure.”

Sourdough bread being baked and sold

Why Is Glyphosate Found In Bread?

According to the Detox Project, pre-harvest desiccation could be the reason why glyphosate is found in healthy foods, such as bread made from wheat. What is pre-harvest desiccation? This is when glyphosate is sprayed on crops in the late season, just before harvest. The extra spraying of glyphosate helps dry out crops early, thereby shortening the time they are in the field. This saves money and resources for the farmer and food companies, which is why it’s done. But at what cost do consumers pay for early crop drying? Glyphosate has staying power, persists on food, and can be found at higher levels as a result of this practice.

As for organic food products, they’re significantly less likely to contain glyphosate residue; however, it does happen. Henry Rowlands from the Detox Project surmises it’s because of contamination in the supply chain or drift from a nearby field where glyphosate is sprayed. But he also admits that the sourdough process itself could be a factor in the lower amounts and needs further investigation.

“These sourdough results show that the wheat supply in the U.S. is still a focal point for glyphosate contamination. However, it does seem that the levels of this toxic weedkiller are lower in sourdough than in other types of bread, probably because of the fermentation process. Sourdough brands should concentrate on sourcing cleaner raw materials.”

Comparing bread products tested in the past for glyphosate to sourdough bread products tested presently, you also start to see some differences in levels. More studies are needed on various bread products and their differences to make a stronger claim, but it appears that sourdough bread may be lower in glyphosate than other breads. For instance, two whole-wheat products were found to contain over 1,000 ppb of glyphosate in other studies. We did not find anything so high in our small study here. 88% of the sourdough bread products we tested were under 50 ppb.

Loaf of fresh sourdough bread on white background

Can the Sourdough Fermentation Process Lower Glyphosate?

Can the slow fermentation process of sourdough bread lower your exposure to glyphosate? According to a few limited studies, the answer is both yes and no, but ultimately, more studies are needed to verify.

A study published in the journal Applied Microbiology International in 2005 found that 21% of glyphosate degraded within the first hour of fermentation without baking. They did this by adding glyphosate to the dough and monitoring its effects over time. This study was not conducted on sourdough bread, which has a longer fermentation time.

However, there is also contradictory evidence to say the opposite. A more recent study published in the Journal Cereal Chemistry in 2020 found that no change happened. 50% of the total glyphosate resided in the outer 17% of the kernels. In addition, 81% of the total glyphosate in the wheat was found in the bran, shorts, and feeds. This did not change during the fermentation process. Essentially, they found that milling the bread into “white bread” and avoiding whole grains reduced the glyphosate level when tested, likely because that’s where most of the glyphosate is hidden. 

Could the process of fermenting sourdough make a difference in decreasing glyphosate? If the first study found some type of degradation of glyphosate within an hour, could it be possible that more glyphosate would degrade because the fermentation time of sourdough ranges from 2-24 hours? This topic hasn’t been studied, so ultimately, we don’t know. We can surmise that it’s possible, but limited.

Our best recommendation, if you cannot find or test for a “clean” sourdough bread, is to start with a glyphosate-free flour, or opt for “white” sourdough bread instead to avoid parts of the plant with higher contamination. We plan on testing flour for glyphosate in the future to help you with breadmaking.

close up portrait of assortment of fresh bread on basket

Other Investigations by Mamavation

Mamavation has conducted additional studies looking at glyphosate and other types of contaminants in our food supply. Here are some additional studies you may be interested in for your family:

More Glyphosate Testing

Small Kitchen Appliances

woman holding Sourdough Bread

Mamavation’s Investigation of Sourdough Bread Details

Eight sourdough products were purchased via Amazon and Instacart in March 2026. Each product was recorded in our database, pictures were taken, and then sent directly to an EPA-certified laboratory within its original packaging. After the results were given, we spent some time analyzing the data to determine where to rank each product.

We decided upon the following for each category based on advice from our scientific team:

  1. Not Our Favorite Category: These sourdough bread brands were sent to an EPA-certified laboratory and found to contain glyphosate.
  2. Better Category: These sourdough bread brands had non-detectable glyphosate results, but are not organic.
  3. Best Category: These sourdough bread brands are USDA organic and had non-detect glyphosate results.

Product Brands We Tested

To help you make informed decisions about which sourdough bread products are safest for your home, we sent a range of popular sourdough bread brands to our EPA-certified laboratory for testing. Each product was evaluated for glyphosate contamination. Below is the complete list of brands included in our investigation. To see the results for each brand, you’ll need to sign in to or apply to MAMAGATE below.

Brands Tested by Mamavation

Want to see the full laboratory results, detailed contamination levels, and our recommendations for the safest sourdough bread brands?  Sign up for MAMAGATE below and get Free Access

The post Sourdough Bread Tested for Glyphosate — Guide appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> Long Grain Rice Tested for Arsenic & Lead — Guide https://mamavation.com/food/long-grain-rice-arsenic.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:05:13 +0000 https://mamavation.com/?p=46256 What long grain rice products can you safely feed your family that have been tested for toxic arsenic, the most common contaminant? Mamavation accepted rice donations from women across the United States and sent them to an independent EPA-certified laboratory to test for arsenic, lead, cadmium & mercury. This consumer study will report how the long grain …

The post Long Grain Rice Tested for Arsenic & Lead — Guide appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> What long grain rice products can you safely feed your family that have been tested for toxic arsenic, the most common contaminant? Mamavation accepted rice donations from women across the United States and sent them to an independent EPA-certified laboratory to test for arsenic, lead, cadmium & mercury. This consumer study will report how the long grain rice brands we sent to the laboratory performed, as shown at the bottom of this post. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you investigations like (1) safest jasmine rice for arsenic & lead,  (2) safest basmati rice for arsenic & lead, (3) safest coffee from pesticides & PFAS, & (4) safest cooking oils tested for phthalates. Now join us for our latest consumer study on rice and see which long-grain rice brands are the safest from arsenic.

Disclosure: This consumer study is released in partnership with Environmental Health News. Donations were provided by Environmental Health News and Mamavation community members. Note that Mamavation has only “spot-checked” the industry and thus we cannot make predictions about brands and products that we have not tested. Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice so buyer beware. This post contains affiliate links, with most to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales and we will use that to pay ourselves back for the testing. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Thank you!  Copyright © 2026 Mamavation — All Rights Reserved

Long Grain Rice

Mamavation Found Arsenic, Lead, & Cadmium in Rice

How much arsenic is in a typical cup of rice? Let’s find out. Previous studies found high levels of arsenic in most rice products, so we created a rice consumer study based on the exact needs of Mamavation community members. Mamavation sent 57 rice & rice noodle products to an EPA-certified laboratory to test for total arsenic, lead, cadmium, & mercury. Because rice is the most significant source of arsenic (other than drinking water) most Americans have daily, we relied on donations from our audience to test exactly what they were already using.

Jasmine rice, basmati rice, brown rice, long-grain rice, parboiled rice, sushi rice, heirloom rice, forbidden rice, & ramen rice noodles were all sent to the laboratory and had various levels of arsenic and other heavy metals present. Here are some of the main findings:

  • 98% of rice samples contained detectable total arsenic. That’s 56 out of 57 rice products. And 100% of long-grain rice had detectable total arsenic.
  • Long-grain rice arsenic levels ranged from 0.048 ug/g  to 0.289 ug/g total arsenic. This can also be described as 48 to 289 parts per billion (ppb).
  • The average long grain rice product contamination was 172 ppb total arsenic; however, the average rice product contamination from the entire rice group was 113 ppb total arsenic.
  • Highest Arsenic Products: Mamavation sent two products with over 10 mcg of total arsenic for every 45 mg of rice for more testing of inorganic arsenic. One product was long-grain rice. Both products came back with concerning levels of inorganic arsenic– 175 ppb and 222 ppb total inorganic arsenic. These samples were from China, Heilongjiang Province, and Louisiana.
  • Geography of Highest Arsenic: Rice products with the highest total arsenic were from China, Thailand, Louisiana, Texas, & South Carolina.
  • Geography of Lowest Arsenic: Rice products with the lowest total arsenic were from California, India, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, & China.

Linda S. Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program & Scholar in Residence at Duke University, Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina, & Yale University had this to say after she reviewed this consumer study: “Pay close attention to how much arsenic is in your rice if you are raising young children or are pregnant. Mamavation has made this easy for you to navigate with their rice testing. Overall, this is a big problem for women who are pregnant, feeding small children, and people who consume lots of rice. So if you eat lots of rice, it’s best to opt for safer brands or types of rice lower in arsenic.”

pile of basmati rice on white background

Health-Related Impacts Linked to Overconsumption of Arsenic

Arsenic is a carcinogen that, in chronic exposure, is linked to bladder, lung, and skin cancers. Its most toxic form, inorganic arsenic, is found in the environment and around industrial processes. Early-life exposures to inorganic arsenic in utero are especially dangerous. Here are some additional health-related impacts linked to overconsumption of arsenic.

For most of the world, exposure to arsenic is through contaminated groundwater. Inorganic arsenic is naturally present at high levels in the groundwater in regions of Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chile, China, India, Mexico, Pakistan, the United States of America, and Vietnam.  Acute poisoning results in vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, followed by numbness and tingling of the extremities, muscle cramping, and even death, in extreme cases. Children are especially vulnerable to arsenic, and in such rare cases, they are referred to a medical toxicologist, Poison Control Center, or Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit for possible chelation therapy. You can check to see the arsenic levels in your public water district here through the Environmental Working Group Tapwater Database.

Rice background with wooden spoon

How to Lower Asenic Exposure for Children

If you are pregnant or caring for small children, lowering your exposure to arsenic is important. There are many things you can do, and we would love to help you get started!

Paddy and rice grain over bamboo mat

Types of Rice — What We Tested

There are two main types of rice: Indica and Japonica. Indica rice, better known as long-grain rice, such as Basmati and Jasmine rice, is long and slim. Japonica rice is a medium to short-grain rice and is stickier, shorter, or rounder. Wild rice is not true rice because it comes from a grass family, but we know you eat it so we won’t be splitting hairs here. Here are the types of rice we tested, broken into categories:

  • Basmati Rice — Basmati rice is a long-grained rice with a nutty flavor and aroma. This type of rice becomes very fluffy when cooked and used in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines.
  • Jasmine Rice — Jasmine rice is another long-grained rice with a floral scent and slightly sweet flavor, native to Southeast Asia. Jasmine rice from Thailand is also known as “Thai Horn Mali”.
  • Brown Rice — Brown rice is a whole grain rice containing the rice kernel, including the germ and the endosperm. This rice is higher in fiber. Technically, any other rice that maintains its structure can be a brown rice. Brown rice typically has more arsenic than white rice because of the hull.
  • Black “Forbidden” Rice is considered a whole grain because it has retained its bran, germ, and endosperm. It’s very dark in color and not as popular in the US as other rice categories.
  • Wild Rice — This rice has more fiber and protein than other rice. The colors can vary.
  • Rice Noodles — We included this category as noodles made from rice. Some products are transparent about what type of rice they use, while others are not.
  • Parboiled — This rice is partially cooked in the husk, and then the husk is removed. This is also referred to as “easy cook” rice.
  • Sushi & Other Short-Grain Rice — This category is a general section where we have to stuff many additional types of rice, like sushi rice and sticky rice.

Long Grain Rice

How Arsenic Finds Its Way Into Rice & Rice Cereals

How does arsenic contaminate rice? The answer to that question is both complicated and straightforward. Rice is the number one source of arsenic for most Americans, but if you eat lots of chicken, mushrooms, or seafood, your arsenic levels may be even higher. Here are the main exposure pathways for arsenic in rice:

  • Geographic locations and farming practices in that area can affect arsenic levels in rice. For instance, rice from California may have less arsenic than rice from Texas or Louisiana.
  • Rice paddies take up more arsenic than other plants, so the naturally present arsenic will increase in rice in a way that doesn’t happen in other plants.
  • The local water supply could have higher arsenic levels, and if used for irrigation, it will increase the amounts in rice. Certain areas like Los Angeles, Houston, & Spokane have higher levels of arsenic in the water.
  • Legacy Pesticide Use: Rice farms that used to be other crops, such as cotton or tobacco, could already have arsenic contamination in the soil from previous pesticide use.
  • Most rice paddy farms are heavily irrigated, turning them into mud patches that never dry out and, over time, concentrate arsenic.
  • Arsenic-containing drugs: Sometimes arsenic-containing drugs and feed additives are fed to chickens to keep them from getting sick, but this also increases arsenic in their feces. This arsenic-filled chicken poop can be used in composting, which can get into the general food supply and can be taken up by plants or eaten by farm animals.

Rice cookers at a department store

Best Rice Cookers

We’ve been researching the safest cookware and small kitchen appliances for years, so we wanted to share with you the safest rice cookers free from PFAS “forever chemical” coatings. Most rice cookers are coated with PFAS “forever chemicals” or different coatings containing nanoparticles. The safest options for rice cookers are stainless steel, cladding materials, or uncoated ceramic, and they can make perfect rice with a fluffy texture. The stainless steel inner rice bowl should be dishwasher-safe, not the entire machine. Not all accessories are approved if they are made of plastic, such as a plastic steamer basket or plastic rice paddle. Most of these machines have a tempered glass lid and a safe heating element, but they can also be placed in warm mode to keep warm. Increasing the water ratio in the rice cooker and later tossing the excess water helps reduce the arsenic in each rice bowl.

Interested in other small kitchen appliances and cookware investigations? Here are some additional studies we have done you may be interested in:

Cookware & Bakeware

Other Kitchen Accessories

Small Kitchen Appliances

Food Packaging

Serving & Plating

Long Grain Rice Tested for Arsenic

Mamavation’s Investigation on Long Grain Rice Tested for Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, & Mercury

To recap, Mamavation sent 57 rice products to an EPA-certified laboratory for testing for arsenic, cadmium, mercury & lead. 98% of rice products had detectable amounts of total arsenic. However, 100% of the rice products contained some detectable heavy metal.

Mamavation accepted rice donations from women across the United States in the following categories: jasmine rice, basmati rice, sushi rice, long grain rice, brown rice, rice noodles, forbidden rice, wild rice, and parboiled rice. After receiving the rice, we recorded the information, took pictures, and sent the products to an EPA-certified laboratory for analysis. Rice that was above 0.22 mcg/g (10 mcg of arsenic per 45-gram serving), was sent back for more inorganic arsenic testing. We then estimated inorganic arsenic in other products by using a summary assessment of inorganic arsenic in rice published in 2024. Based on that study, we estimated that inorganic arsenic accounts for 72.7% of the total arsenic found. We included those estimations with all the products in the raw data below.

We are releasing the raw data in different categories:

The final rice-related investigation that will be posted will be a compilation of all rice products together. The raw data released in this investigation will focus on Long-grain rice. We divided the rice products into 3 categories according to contamination levels. These levels reflect the overall levels of heavy metal contamination in each product but do not follow specific government recommendations.

  • ug/g = 1 ppm = 1000 ppb
  • ug/kg = 1 ppb
  • <MRL means less than “maximum residue limit,” which means it can be found, but it’s so small it can’t be quantified.
  • ND = non-detect

Product Brands We Tested
To help our community make safer choices, Mamavation sent a wide range of popular long-grain rice to our EPA-certified laboratory for heavy metal testing.

Below is the complete list of long-grain rice included in our investigation. Sign into MAMAGATE below to view all results.

  • 4 Sisters & a Rice Farm in Louisiana Extra Long Grain Organic Brown Rice
  • 365 WFM Organic White Rice Long Grain
  • Carolina Carolina Gold Rice Plantation
  • Lundberg Family Farms Long Grain White Rice Regenerative Organic Certified
  • Khazana Organic Sona Masoori Rice
  • Mahatma America’s Favorite Rice Extra Long Enriched Rice
  • Parish Rice Higher Protein Certified Cajun GMO Free

The post Long Grain Rice Tested for Arsenic & Lead — Guide appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> Netflix Film “The Plastic Detox” Covers Infertility & Tips for Reduction https://mamavation.com/science/netflix-plastic-detox.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:59:49 +0000 https://mamavation.com/?p=46263 Netflix recently debuted the documentary “The Plastic Detox,” a surprisingly uplifting story that explores the connection between plastics and infertility. It also explores the question, can plastic reduction help couples get pregnant after they have struggled with infertility? The answer is yes, it’s a possibility. There’s also a toxicity test from Million Marker that you …

The post Netflix Film “The Plastic Detox” Covers Infertility & Tips for Reduction appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> Netflix recently debuted the documentary “The Plastic Detox,” a surprisingly uplifting story that explores the connection between plastics and infertility. It also explores the question, can plastic reduction help couples get pregnant after they have struggled with infertility? The answer is yes, it’s a possibility. There’s also a toxicity test from Million Marker that you can use to help support the process of detoxing your home. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like safest cooking oils tested for phthalates, safest children’s multivitamins & women’s multivitamins tested for pesticides, heavy metals, phthalates, and PFAS “forever chemicals.” Now join us for the details behind the Netflix documentary “The Plastic Detox,” tips on how you can lower the effects of plasticizers in your life, and a test you can use.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

Environmental disaster concept - our legacy to the future generations

“The Plastic Detox” on Netflix — Toxic Plasticizers Decrease Fertility

The Plastic Detox is a hard-hitting documentary exposing the hormone-disrupting effects of plastic use in our everyday lives. Six couples commit to removing plastic from their homes and diet in hopes of increasing their fertility and getting pregnant. While you are going through this emotional rollercoaster with the couples, the film takes you through the science of endocrine disruption, its impacts on fertility, and other ways that plastics are harming our Planet.

With an Academy Award-winning production team, The Plastic Detox introduces you to Professor Dr. Shanna Swan, who has been studying the effects of phthalates and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals on our fertility for over 20 years.

The questions that are asked:

  • Is all this plastic and its manufacturing helping or hurting us, or both?
  • With declining fertility globally and its links to hormone-disrupting chemicals in plastics, do we really need this much plastic in our lives?
  • What types of plastic are needed vs. what can we get rid of?
  • What can couples do to reduce the hormone-disrupting effects of plastics in their lives?

Plastic exposure has been linked to hormone disruption, a global rise in fertility challenges, increasing cancer rates, & early occurrences of heart disease & stroke. By combining scientific insight with personal stories, the film shows how simple changes in your environment can lead to positive changes within months and increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.

Plastic garbage in a landfill

Recommendations on Toxic Plastic Reduction

Plastics are everywhere in our homes; however, there are some simple tips to reduce this exposure.

  • Avoid purchasing food, beverages, and personal care products in plastic packaging whenever possible.
  • Do not warm food in plastic containers in the microwave. Swap them out for glass or ceramic.
  • Change your food containers to non-plastic materials like glass & stainless steel.
  • Avoid fast food as much as possible. Consider cooking from scratch and “processing” your food in your own kitchen to reduce exposure to plastics.
  • Reduce the amount of polyester (plastic) in your clothing and opt for more natural materials like cotton & wool
  • Use cooking oils with the least amount of toxic phthalates. Although selecting oils in a plastic bottle won’t avoid all phthalates, the brands that have lowered plastic exposure during manufacturing may not be obvious to the naked eye. This is why Mamavation does testing to give you those answers.
  • Consume supplements with no or lower amounts of toxic phthalates and PFAS “forever chemicals.” Mamavation has tested women’s multivitamins and children’s multivitamins for you.
  • Avoid plastic cutting boards and swap to a wooden cutting board. We have done the work here to find a good one for you — even accounting for the toxic glues they may be using.
  • Swap your kitchen utensils from plastic to wood or steel. We’ve done work to find you good ones here.
  • Ditch bottled water completely. Instead, use filtered water (here are the best ones) and put it in a safer reusable water bottle. If you want the safest sparkling water, we’ve also tested those here.
  • Go fragrance-free when opting for personal care products. Many undisclosed fragrances contain phthalates.
  • Decline touching receipts unless they are bisphenol-free. Bisphenol exposure is highest when handling receipt paper. Here are some companies that offer safer bisphenol-free receipts: Target, Best Buy, CVS, Costco, Trader Joes, Home Depot, Kohls, Office Depot, Whole Foods, Walgreens, Chipotle, Starbucks, Five Below, & REI. (You can thank Mamavation for our successful Target campaign, which resulted in Target changing its receipt paper by the end of 2019, but the rest of the credit goes to the tireless efforts of the Mind the Store campaign at Toxic-Free Future.)

man holding bin of plastics

Test Yourself & Your Family for Toxic Chemicals

Would you like to use the same resources that are used by couples featured in The Plastic Detox? Couples used the Million Marker test to determine their baseline toxic plastic exposure before they started making changes.

Million Marker is the only direct-to-consumer (DTC) mail-in toxicity test currently available. This is the same test used in the documentary to track what was happening with each couple. This test finds BPA, phthalates, parabens, and many other common household chemicals that can disrupt hormones. In addition, the Million Marker Fertility Kit has been validated in clinical studies. This means it’s highly accurate and has been used to collect clinical data in a study.

Million Marker is offering the Mamavation community discounted testing kits. Here are those details:

The post Netflix Film “The Plastic Detox” Covers Infertility & Tips for Reduction appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> Paper Towels Tested for Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” — Guide https://mamavation.com/home-goods/paper-towels-pfas.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 23:05:41 +0000 https://mamavation.com/?p=45791 Do your paper towels contain indications of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”? Mamavation was asked that question by our audience, and the only way to find out was to send the most popular paper towel products to the lab. So that is what we did in our latest consumer study on PFAS. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like best …

The post Paper Towels Tested for Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” — Guide appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> Do your paper towels contain indications of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”? Mamavation was asked that question by our audience, and the only way to find out was to send the most popular paper towel products to the lab. So that is what we did in our latest consumer study on PFAS. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like best green beauty makeup sans PFAS, best & worst cookware sans PFAS, & best water filters to capture PFAS, now join us for a consumer study on indications of PFAS and paper towels. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the raw data from our EPA-certified laboratory inside MAMAGATE.

Disclosure: This consumer study is released in partnership with Environmental Health News. Donations were provided by Environmental Health News and Mamavation community members. Mamavation has only “spot-checked” the industry and thus we cannot make predictions about brands and products that we have not tested. Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice so buyer beware. This post contains affiliate links, with some to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales and we will use that to pay ourselves back for the testing. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Thank you!  Copyright © 2026 Mamavation — All Rights Reserved

Paper Towels together in a pile

Mamavation Finds Indications of PFAS in Paper Towels

PFAS “forever chemicals” are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances used as stain-resistant, water-resistant, & oil-resistant chemicals in commerce. They have been used for decades inside consumer products, manufacturing, and building materials. There are over 15,000 different chemicals in the PFAS chemical class (including PFOA & PTFE), and because there are so many of them, they are incredibly hard to identify and test for. The biggest problem with PFAS is their staying power–they do not leave the environment or our bodies for many many years, which is the reason they are dubbed “forever chemicals.”

Mamavation sent 16 paper towel products to an EPA-certified laboratory to test for organic fluorine, which is a marker for PFAS “forever chemical” compounds. We included as many types of paper pulp as we could, such as bamboo, recycled, and conventional wood pulp.

Here are the main findings from Mamavation’s paper towels PFAS Consumer Study:

  • 31% of paper towels tested at Mamavation’s EPA-certified lab had indications of PFAS “forever chemicals”, while 69% of paper towels tested did not. In other words, 5 out of 16 products contained indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.”
  • According to our lab, levels of organic fluorine, a marker for PFAS, were found between 6 parts per million (ppm) to 37 parts per million (ppm).
  • 80% of the products with detectable levels of organic fluorine were recycled paper products. In other words, 4 out of 5 detectable products were made from recycled pulp
  • (UPDATE: 5 additional brands were updated to this investigation in 3/2026. They are not reflected in the percentages above.)

When PFAS is detected in paper towels in the amounts we are seeing they are unlikely added on purpose but are more likely present due to manufacturing or packaging contamination of some kind in the supply chain. 

Roll of paper towels and wooden board with butter on kitchen table

PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Have Problematic Health Effects

PFAS “forever chemicals” are problematic for human health and the environment. They are considered ubiquitous, persistent, and toxic. Many of these PFAS chemicals can last for years or decades in our bodies. The health effects of exposure to PFAS on the skin in sensitive areas like breast tissue are unknown. It’s also unknown what happens when it is absorbed into our tissues and travels around in our bodies. However, we do know that these areas can be vulnerable to toxic chemicals like PFAS “forever chemicals.” Therefore, it’s imperative to reduce the amount of PFAS you are exposed to from food, water, and consumer products. Mamavation is dedicated to helping you do that when you are shopping for paper towels.

Here are some of the health effects of different PFAS “forever chemicals:”

It’s also very clear based on biomonitoring evidence from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that PFAS are in all Americans. Therefore, these exposures can harm most Americans.

Two paper kitchen towels on the brown wooden table.

Other Categories of Products Mamavation Has Tested for Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

Before we launch into the raw data from our lab, we wanted to remind you about all the other studies we have done on indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” inside the food and consumer products you may bring inside your home. Each one of these studies were done in a similar fashion as this study with brands sent independently to the lab and raw data of those labs at the bottom of the post.

All additional consumer studies are posted here.

Paper Towels on a mint background

Mamavation’s Investigation of Paper Towels & Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

Paper towel products were donated in 2024 & 2025. For this consumer study, most products were purchased by community members and sent to us in original packaging.

Testing: Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory uses marker testing to identify the potential presence of PFAS “forever chemicals” in paper towels. Organic fluorine is a marker for PFAS because all PFAS chemicals are carbon-based compounds that contain fluorine. The specific lab method used to test for total fluorine was the Determination of Total Fluorine by Oxygen Flask Combustion and Ion-Selective Electrode. If total fluorine was observed at a detection level of 10 ppm or greater, the lab did the Determination of free Fluoride Ion in the product by Ion-Selective Electrode and then subtracted that from the Total Fluorine to determine the amount of organic fluorine. This marker testing is likely to show the presence of PFAS. Organic fluorine can also capture other fluoropolymers, pharmaceuticals, and common hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, such as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (commonly known as R-134a) and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (commonly known as HFO-1234yf), which are all also PFAS.

Product Brands We Tested
To help our community make safer choices, Mamavation sent a wide range of popular paper towels to our EPA-certified laboratory for organic fluorine testing.

Below is the complete list of paper towels included in our investigation.

Paper Towel Products Tested by Mamavation

  • Aware (Amazon) 100% Bamboo Paper Towels
  • Bounty Paper Towels
  • Brawny Tear-A-Square Paper Towels
  • Caboo Tree Free Paper Towels Made from Sustainable Bamboo
  • EcoFirst Sustainable Paper Products Paper Towels
  • Ever Spring 100% Recycled Paper Towels
  • Green Forest 100% Recycled Paper Towels contains 80% post-consumer recycled paper
  • Grove Co. Tree-Free Paper Towels
  • Kirkland Signature Premium Towel
  • Natural Value 100% Recycled Quilted Kraft Paper Towels 80% Post Consumer Recycled Content
  • Natural Value 100% Recycled Paper Towels
  • Purafide 100% Bamboo Paper Towels
  • Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Paper Towels Minimum 85% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper Whitened without Chlorine Bleach
  • Seventh Generation Unbleached Paper Towels 100% Recycled to Save Energy & Water Minimum 80% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper
  • Sprouts Farmers Market Recycled Strong & Absorbent Paper Towels Unbleached
  • Sprouts Farmers Market Strong & Absorbent Paper Towels
  • Reel Premium Tree Free Kitchen Towel Made from 100% Recycled Fiber 
  • Reel Sustainable Bamboo Paper Towels
  • Repurpose Ultra Strong Bamboo Paper Towels
  • Up & Up (Target) Premium Quality Paper Towels
  • Viva Multi-Surface Cloth Paper Towels

Want full access to the raw data, organic fluorine levels, and our recommendations for the safest mouth tape products? Join MAMAGATE and get free access to the complete buying guide below, with detailed lab results for every product.

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]]> Safest Soil for Gardening Tested for PFAS “Forever Chemicals” — Guide https://mamavation.com/garden/gardening-soil-pfas.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:10:40 +0000 https://mamavation.com/?p=46081 Are you looking for the safest soil for gardening? Mamavation sent many popular garden soils to an EPA-certified laboratory testing for PFAS “forever chemicals.” Unfortunately, many organic garden soils came back with detections. Would you like to know which garden soils had non-detections? You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you other consumer studies like best showerhead …

The post Safest Soil for Gardening Tested for PFAS “Forever Chemicals” — Guide appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> Are you looking for the safest soil for gardening? Mamavation sent many popular garden soils to an EPA-certified laboratory testing for PFAS “forever chemicals.” Unfortunately, many organic garden soils came back with detections. Would you like to know which garden soils had non-detections? You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you other consumer studies like best showerhead water filters, best air purifiers, & safest outdoor grills & BBQs, now join us as we bring you the results of garden soil tested for PFAS, “forever chemicals.”

Disclosure: This consumer study is released in partnership with Environmental Health News. Scientific review was performed by Dr. Craig Downs, Executive Director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory. Donations were provided by Environmental Health News and Mamavation community members. Note that Mamavation has only “spot-checked” the industry and thus we cannot make predictions about brands and products that we have not tested. Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice so buyer beware. This post contains affiliate links, with some to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales and we will use that to pay ourselves back for the testing. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Thank you!  

black soil in man hand closeup outdoor

Mamavation Finds PFAS “Forever Chemicals” in Organic Garden Soils

Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS “forever chemicals”) in 18 popular garden soils. These chemicals are linked to serious health effects, which we will discuss later. Because PFAS “forever chemicals” are so problematic to normal hormone action, Mamavation has commissioned our own scientific studies on PFAS in food products to make recommendations for the safest garden soils. Continue reading Mamavation’s article on these products to find which brands have the safest garden soils according to our laboratory.

For this consumer study, Mamavation sent 18 popular garden soils from 11 brands to an EPA-certified laboratory looking for specific PFAS compounds. Because Mamavation only tested one product per brand, we cannot claim to know if these issues are, in fact, industry-wide or brand-wide. However, based on our “spot-check” of the industry, this is what we found:

  • 83% of garden soil had detectable PFAS “forever chemicals” according to our lab. That’s 15 out of 18 garden soil products tested had PFAS.
  • 61% of garden soil had quantifiable levels of PFAS “forever chemicals” according to our lab. This means the levels of PFAS found were high enough to quantify. That’s 11 out of 18 garden soil products.
  • 80% of organic gardening soil had detectable PFAS “forever chemicals“, which ends up being 8 out of 10 Organic products tested.
  • One brand of organic Miracle-Grow had over 20 types of PFAS.

Dr. Craig Downs, Executive Director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, had this to say after his scientific review, “PFAS contamination of garden soils is extremely worrisome. A number of scientific studies have shown that PFAS contaminants in the soil can be taken up by the plants and sequester in the leaves (e.g., spinach), fruit (e.g., tomatoes), and roots (e.g., carrots). Studies have shown that PFAS contaminants can accumulate in vegetables above the recommended attention and action limits. This potentially poses a risk for everyone who consumes produce from plants grown in contaminated soil.”

sprout coming out of the garden soil

Recent Studies & Lawsuits on PFAS Have Demonstrated Widespread Contamination in Garden Soils

The last five years have seen lots of study and movement around PFAS “forever chemicals” and soil. Not only have two very popular garden soil companies been sued, but many studies have found PFAS in garden soil.

  • Miracle-Gro Lawsuit filed in 2025 says Scott’s falsely represents that the Products are organic even though they contain synthetic, nonorganic, and harmful forever chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
  • The Kellogg Organics Lawsuit, filed in 2025, alleges that Kellogg falsely represents that its products are “organic” despite containing PFAS such as PFOA and PFOS.
  • The National Collaborative PFAS Project was released in January 2025 with Phase I findings. They found PFAS in biosolids and soil nationwide. The study is designed to evaluate the incidence and mobility of PFAS in soils with a history of land application of municipal biosolids. Partners from 23 sites in 17 states across the country provided soil samples from land application and control plots (no biosolids applied). Samples represented a variety of different soil types, depths to groundwater, climates, and irrigation methods.
  • Study in 2024 found the release potential of PFAS from a commercial biosolid-derived compost.
  • Australian study in 2022 looked at 19 different commercially available composts, garden soils, and potting mixes for the presence of 38 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The concentration of 38 PFAS in all the products ranged from 1.26 to 11.84 µg kg. The concentrations of legacy PFAS such as PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS in all the tested samples were (mean concentration 0.47, 0.60, and 0.58 µg kg.)

Planting seedlings in greenhouse in spring

How Do PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Get Into Garden Soil

There are many known sources of PFAS that can find their way into garden soil. This may not be an exhaustive list, but here are many ways we believe the contamination may find itself present.

  • Biosolids: Where does all that sewage go? When sewage from households and businesses is sent to a wastewater treatment plant, the liquids are separated from the solids, producing a semi-solid, nutrient-rich product known as “sewage sludge” or “biosolids”. It’s then treated according to the regulatory requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and returned to the land. How? Farmers are sold biosolids as soil conditioners or fertilizers, which can have high amounts of PFAS.
  • Compost: Biosolids are the #1 reason why compost may contain PFAS. Many commercial garden composts, soil amendments, and “organic” bagged mixes include or are made from biosolids, which can contain PFAS. Then breaking down packaging known to contain PFAS can contaminate compost as well. Grease-proof wrappers, plates, pizza boxes, and takeout containers (even some labeled “compostable”) contain PFAS for water/oil resistance. When food scraps and contaminated packaging go into commercial compost streams, the PFAS tranfers to the final product.
  • Manure: PFAS gets into manure by first contaminating water, soil, or animal feed on the farm. Crops absorb PFAS and Horses and cows consume what is present on the farm and that comes out in their manure.
  • Other organic materials like peat, worm castings, or plant-based fertilizers may have low background levels from environmental exposure.
  • Irrigation with Contaminated Water: Water is contaminated in several ways. Industrial discharges & discharges from toxic products we bring into our homes find their way into rivers, streams, and groundwater. Products such cosmetics, non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, cleaning products, pesticides, & old carpeting contaminate drains and sewers. Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used at airports, military bases, and fire-training sites also contain very high PFAS levels, which can find it’s way into groundwater, etc. Then farmers & home gardeners draw from surface water (rivers, lakes, canals, ponds), groundwater wells, and municipal reclaimed water systems, which all could contain PFAS.
  • Atmospheric Deposition and Airborne Sources: Airborne sources of PFAS are very common.They start as direct emissions and indirect release of volatile precursors. Industrial facilities release both particle-bound PFAS and gases. Wastewater treatment plants release PFAS into the air when sludge in aeration basins are burned. Landfills offgas PFAS from contaminated waste. Firefighting foam (AFFF) sites aerosolize PFAS during use of fires at airports and military bases. PFAS is also incinerated when houses or buildings burn. And finally, on urban dust and vehicular emissions from cars and such in cities can all contribute to PFAS found in the urban dust and vehicular emissions — in cities.
  • Historical Use of PFAS: Some areas are known to have PFAS “forever chemical” contamination such as airports, military bases, printing presses, landromats, chemical manufacturing plants, semiconductors, textile and carpet mills, petroleum refining. leather tanning, construction, automotive, aerospace, and pharmaceutical industries.

Safest Soil for Gardening Tested for PFAS "Forever Chemicals" -- Guide 3

Mamavation’s Investigation of Garden Soil and 40 Analyte PFAS Testing

Garden Soil was purchased between June of 2024 and February of 2025 on the East Coast and then on the West Coast.  Each product was recorded in our database and then sent directly to the lab within its original packaging.

  • Perflurobutanoic acid (PFBA)
  • Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)
  • Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)
  • Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)
  • Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
  • Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
  • Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)
  • Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)
  • Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)
  • Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)
  • Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeDA)
  • Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)
  • Perfluoropentansulfonic acid (PFPeS)
  • Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)
  • Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)
  • Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)
  • Perfluoronanesulfonic acid (PFNS)
  • Perfluorodecanesulfonic acid (PFDS)
  • Perfluorododecanesulfonic acid (PFDoS)
  • 1H,1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2FTS)
  • 1H,1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2FTS)
  • 1H,1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2FTS)
  • Perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA)
  • N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide (NMeFOSA)
  • N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide (NEtFOSA)
  • N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSE)
  • N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoethanol (NEtFOSE)
  • Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA)
  • 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)
  • Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)
  • Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)
  • Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)
  • 9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid (9CI-PF3ONS)
  • 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11CI-PF3OUdS)
  • Perfluoro(2-ethoxyethane)sulfonic acid (PFEESA)
  • 3-Perfluoropropyl propanoic acid (3:3FTCA)
  • 2H,2H,3H,3H-Perfluorooctanoic acid (5:3FTCA)
  • 3-Perfluoroheptyl propanoic acid (7:3FTCA)

Product Brands We Tested
To help our community make safer choices, Mamavation sent a wide range of popular garden soil to our EPA-certified laboratory for PFAS testing.

Below is the complete list of garden soils included in our investigation. Sign into MAMAGATE below to view all results.

  • Back to Roots Organic Potting Soil
  • Garden Kellogg Organics Patio Plus Premium Outdoor Potting Mix Organic Plus
  • Grow Well Proven Organic Garden Soil Farm Grade Organics for Home-Grown Success Professional Farm-Grade Soil
  • Harvest Organics Potting Soil
  • Kellogg Garden Organics All-Natural Garden Soil for Flowers & Vegetables
  • Kellogg Organic Raised Bed & Potting Mix Premium Outdoor Container Mix Organic Plus
  • Miracle-Gro Raised Bed Soil 
  • Miracle-Gro Performance Organics In-Ground Soil (Purchased East Coast)
  • Miracle-Gro Performance Organics In-Ground Soil  (Purchased West Coast)
  • Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for Veg & Herbs 
  • Miracle-Gro Potting Mix
  • Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for in-ground use
  • Miracle-Gro Organic Raised Bed & Garden Soil Quick Release Natural Fertilizer
  • ProMix Premium Organic Garden Mix Compressed Pack
  • ProMix Premium All Purpose Mix
  • StaGreen Flower & Veggie soil plus fertilizer
  • Timberline Soil Cow Manure & Compost
  • Vigoro All-Purpose Potting Mix Specialty Blended for Indoor & Outdoor Containers & Pots

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]]> 40% of California’s Produce May Contain PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Says Report https://mamavation.com/science/california-produce-pfas.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:54:15 +0000 https://mamavation.com/?p=45973 California farmers sprayed over 14 MILLION lbs. of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals” on crops between 2018 and 2023, and now about 40% of non-organic California-grown produce is contaminated, according to special reports prepared by the Environmental Working Group. Was this PFAS pesticide contamination sprayed by you? Which fruits and vegetables were most …

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]]> California farmers sprayed over 14 MILLION lbs. of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals” on crops between 2018 and 2023, and now about 40% of non-organic California-grown produce is contaminated, according to special reports prepared by the Environmental Working Group. Was this PFAS pesticide contamination sprayed by you? Which fruits and vegetables were most likely to be contaminated with PFAS, and what should your family do? You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like safest cooking oils tested for phthalates, safest toilet paper tested for PFAS “forever chemicals,” and best red light therapy devices, now join us as we bring you two recent studies by EWG about PFAS “forever chemicals” in our food.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  

Farmland in the heartland

EWG Finds 14 Million lbs. of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Sprayed on Non-Organic Farmland in California

California produce has a PFAS “forever chemical” problem. Researchers at The Environmental Working Group (EWG) combed through official data from California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation to ascertain how many millions of pounds of pesticides were sprayed on crops in California. After studying all the pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, which are widely used in the state’s most productive farmland, they were able to create an interactive map.

If you live in the State of California, you are now able to click on this map and find out how many lbs. of PFAS were used in your county and what type of crop it was sprayed on. You’ll notice right away that PFAS were used in all 58 counties, with up to 2.5 million lbs. per year, exposing millions of Californians to hazardous chemicals that will never break down in the environment.

Not only does the State of California permit the use of PFAS in pesticides, but this widespread use has contaminated produce, soil, and drinking water, exposing millions to potential health risks. Two of these pesticides, bifenthrin and trifluralin, have already been banned in the European Union due to health and environmental concerns. Yet they remain in widespread use on California farmland. When you consider that California produces half the produce nationwide, you realize that what happens in California does NOT stay in California. This is, in fact, a nationwide problem.

Crops with the highest amounts of PFAS sprayed:

  1. Almonds – 4,176,442 lbs
  2. Pistachios – 1,396,225 lbs
  3. Structural pest control – 1,094,680 lbs
  4. Grapes, Wine – 951,269 lbs
  5. Alfalfa – 933,971 lbs

Woman standing on the farm

EWG Finds About 40% of California’s Non-Organic Produce Contains PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

EWG then reviewed data from the California Pesticide Residue Monitoring Report to find which produce was most affected by PFAS contamination according to California’s own testing. They found that almost 40% of non-organic fruits and vegetables grown in California were contaminated with PFAS.

In 2023, the state collected over 900 samples of 78 different types of conventional produce, and this subset was the basis for EWG’s analysis. Of the 78 produce categories, 40 types of fruits and vegetables contained PFAS residues. Now, not only can you find out how many lbs. of PFAS were sprayed, but you can learn how much of it had staying power when purchased by consumers. Here were some main findings:

  • What’s Being Delivered to Your Grocery Store: 37% of non-organic samples tested by the State of California had traces of PFAS pesticides.
  • Category by Category: 51% of the 78 produce categories were contaminated with traces of PFAS
  • Stone Fruits. Peaches, nectarines, and plums showed the highest contamination rates, with nine out of 10 samples testing positive for PFAS pesticides
  • Strawberries. Contained 10 individual PFAS pesticides, more variety than any other crop
  • Grapes and Cherries. Showed lower individual PFAS pesticide detection rates, but are contaminated with several PFAS pesticides
  • Other Affected Crops: includes spinach, blueberries, lettuce, lemons, and other popular produce items
  • Crops Not Sprayed with PFAS: Sweet potatoes, cauliflower, mushrooms, tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet corn, avocados, and summer and winter squash.
  • EU Banned Pesticides: Of the 53 PFAS pesticides approved for use in California, the European Union doesn’t allow 23.

Farmer holding tomatoes on the farm

Potential Health Impacts & Why You Should Care Even if You Don’t Live in California

California produces the vast majority of “specialty crops” in the United States. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, especially those you would put in a salad, like spinach, romaine, tomatoes, bell peppers, almonds, pistachios, celery, strawberries, oranges, etc. These crops are trucked to grocery stores all over the country and become part of your meal.

PFAS are problematic to human health and the environment. They are considered ubiquitous, persistent, and toxic. Therefore, it’s imperative to reduce the amount of PFAS you are exposed to from food and water and personal care products. Here are the main health impacts of exposure to PFAS:

Farmer standing in the field with tomatoes in a box

Simple Actions To Lessen the Impact of PFAS Today

PFAS is considered ubiquitous; however, there are many ways you can reduce your exposure through simple changes and product choices. You cannot completely eliminate your exposure to PFAS, but here are some tips to lessen their impact in your home.

Clean Up Your Indoor Air

PFAS is so common in our environment that it’s been found in dust inside our indoor air. So the average person is breathing PFAS into their lungs based on how much dust is inside the home. PFAS are attracted to dust and attach to it, along with many other hormone-disrupting chemicals like phthalates and fire retardants. PFAS sources include everyday products and materials inside and outside your home. The best way to tackle this issue is with three steps:

  1. Get a good air purifier and leave it on all day. But also make sure to open your windows every day and air out your home.
  2. Dust your home once a week. Start at the top of the room with fans and finish with flooring. Removing dust means you’ll have less to breathe in daily.
  3. Wash your hands before you eat. You’ve been touching dust on surfaces all day long.

Our Mamavation Air Purifier Recommendations

Filter your Water

We do not know how much PFAS you are exposed to in your water because most PFAS cannot be identified by testing. This is the most horrible truth. Most districts are testing for a very limited number of PFAS chemicals. However, there are over 15,000 chemicals in commerce, so it’s very likely some chemicals are being missed in testing. So we recommend filtering your water as if they have already found PFAS, because chances are, that’s true.

These two units have been independently tested to handle the greatest amount of specific PFAS chemicals. While many brands claim to filter PFAS, these companies were independently tested in highly polluted areas and successfully removed numerous specific PFAS. Both companies offer very good under-the-sink and counter versions of their products. Clearly Filtered also offers a very good refrigerator filter.

Farmer giving hay to his cows

Eat As Much Organic Produce As You Can As Close to “Scratch” as You Can

When it comes to food, the best thing you can do is purchase organic and cook from scratch. This is not always possible for modern families, so doing it as often as you can is the main goal. Mamavation has taken the role of testing the supply chain for PFAS or indications of PFAS for many years to help you with that goal. Here are some of our recent investigations into specific categories of food, beverages, & supplements

Opt for Organic Wine — We tested Frey Vineyards

The EWG called out grapes and vineyards in their study as a category of crops that have high PFAS pesticide use, so we recommend opting for organic wine (only if you are drinking) as a way to lessen your impact of PFAS. We have already tested Frey Vineyards for glyphosate, and they are a USDA organic vineyard in Northern California.

Eat Organic, Grassfed & Pastured Meats

Unfortunately, alfalfa was also identified as a crop with high PFAS pesticide use in California. Alfalfa is used as animal feed for many animals like cows, pigs, sheep, etc. Alfalfa can also be genetically modified and sprayed with Roundup Ready herbicide. We would recommend sticking to USDA organic and grassfed meats where you know the farmers don’t spray pesticides on their land. We have tested two different meat-producing ranch operations for phthalates in beef suet. We have not tested them for PFAS, but already know they don’t use pesticides on their land. Your other options would be to sticking to organic beef, pork, lamb, chicken, etc., to avoid fluorinated pesticide contamination in your food as often as you can.

  • Parker Pastures — Non-detect beef suet for phthalates (Get $25 off your first order of $150 or more by using discount code “LEAH”)
  • White Oak Pastures — Non-detect beef suet for phthalates (Get $20 off any order over $150. One use per customer. Use “MAMAVATION” at checkout or click on link for it to be automatically applied.) 

Father and son on the farm looking at their cows

Swap Out Your Non-Stick Cookware

Non-stick cookware is mostly made from a type of PFAS chemical called Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), aka “Teflon.” We highly recommend sticking to stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, glass, and non-coated ceramic.

Stainless Steel Cookware Recommendations

Best 304 Stainless Steel (with Nickel)
Best 430 Stainless Steel (without Nickel)

This cookware is a lower-quality stainless steel and should only be purchased by people with allergies or sensitivities to nickel. But if you have a sensitivity to nickel, this is your list.

Cast Iron Cookware Recommendations

Ceramic Cookware Recommendations

Most “ceramic” cookware is actually made from nanoparticles. This brand does not expose you to nanoparticles and has been cleared via Prop.65 in California for safe heavy metal exposure too.

Carbon Steel Cookware Recommendations

Bakeware Recommendations

Swap Out Your Other Small Kitchen Appliances

Mamavation has conducted numerous studies on small kitchen appliances and has reached out to these brands to find out what materials they use. Each one of these investigations will help you avoid PFAS.

Farmer on a beet farm

Swap Out Your Makeup & Other Personal Care Products

We have conducted many investigations to help you avoid PFAS. For some of these investigations, we have done testing, while for others, we have done an ingredient review to help you avoid problematic chemicals.

Feminine Care

We’ve tested these feminine care products for indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” to help you clean up the feminine care products you use.

Food Packaging

We’ve tested these food packaging categories for indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” to help you clean up your home.

Farmer in apple orchard

Clothing & Activewear

Clothing we have tested for indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.”

Stain Resistant Carpet & Upholstery

Older carpets and upholstery would typically contain PFAS. As you remodel your home, ask about PFAS free carpet and flooring. We have not done testing of carpets, but we have done testing of furniture swatches for you here.

Mattresses

Here are our highest-rated organic mattresses that do not contain PFAS.

  • Happsy—  (Use discount code “MAMAVATION10” for 10% off your total purchase. While supplies last. Cannot be used with other promo codes. Cannot be applied to past purchases. Valid one time per customer. Other restrictions may apply.)
  • Lifekind
  • Naturepedic— (Use discount code “MAMAVATION15” for 15% off your total purchase. While supplies last. Cannot be used with other promo codes. Cannot be applied to past purchases. Valid one time per customer. Other restrictions may apply.)
  • Obasan— (Use discount code “MAMAVATIONBED” for two free complimentary pillows of your choice when you purchase an adult mattress. Make sure they are in your cart. )
  • Organic Mattress Incorporated (OMI)
  • Savvy Rest

Rugs

These rug brands do not use chemicals that intentionally expose you to PFAS. However, please note that we have not been able to test any of them.

  • CICIL Home (Sign up for their newsletter and get 10% off your order!) 
  • Loomy
  • Lorena Canals Rugs (Use discount code “MAMAVATIONXLC10″ for 10% off products!)
  • Oh! Happy Home (Goodweave Certified) (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 10% off products!)
  • Organic & Healthy
  • *Organic Weave (GOTS Organic) (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 10% off products!) 
  • Rawganique 
  • Rugs by Roo (Goodweave Certified) (Use discount code “MAMAVATION15” for 15% off products!) 
  • Safavieh (natural selections, not all selections)(OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified)
  • Sage & Wild (GOTS Organic)(Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 10% off products!) 
  • The Citizenry

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]]> Natural, Organic & Non-Toxic Dog Food Purchasing Guide https://mamavation.com/product-investigations/the-ultimate-non-toxic-dog-food-investigation.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:00:06 +0000 https://dev.mamavation.com/?p=22831 What are the best natural organic & non-toxic dog food brands “free-from” things like growth hormones, fillers, and other problematic chemicals? You love your dog and want him or her to be healthy and happy, right? We can help you find the best food for your pup! You’ve trusted Mamavation to cover topics like best …

The post Natural, Organic & Non-Toxic Dog Food Purchasing Guide appeared first on MAMAVATION.

]]> What are the best natural organic & non-toxic dog food brands “free-from” things like growth hormones, fillers, and other problematic chemicals? You love your dog and want him or her to be healthy and happy, right? We can help you find the best food for your pup! You’ve trusted Mamavation to cover topics like best organic mattresses, best green beauty makeup without PFAS “forever chemicals,” and best cookware without PFAS “forever chemicals” and nanoparticles, now join us as we cover the best non-toxic & natural dog foods and the glaring problems in the pet food industry.

Disclosure: This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. This post also contains affiliate links. 

non-toxic dog food investigation

Americans Spend Billions Because Our Pets Are Important to Us

Actually, they’re not just pets, they’re members of the family. 70% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 90.5 million homes. So much so that pet owners in the United States spent $50 billion on pet food in 2020 alone according to the American Pet Products Association. And that’s just food!

Overall, we spent a massive $103.6 billion on our pets over the course of a year. Surprisingly, very little is known about pet food ingredients and accompanying laws, but there’s a wave of awakened pet owners who are eager to become informed on the matter.

Mamavation is about to cover these topics to help you make better & safer consumer choices in terms of dog food. We will focus on product contamination, ingredient quality, and a shocking lack of oversight by the Feds. Then at the end of this investigation, we will share our rankings of all the most popular dog food brands.

dogfood in a stainless steel dog bowl

Environmental Working Group (EWG) Finds Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemicals” in Cat Food Packaging

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) released a pet food consumer study where they tested eleven bags of the most popular dog and cat food brands for indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” inside the packaging. They found indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” in the packaging and that is concerning because of its ability to leach into the cat or dog food and expose your pet to PFAS. PFAS is toxic and persistent and linked with numerous health problems like cancer, immune system dysregulation, and weight gain in humans.

The following dog food and cat food products were tested by EWG:

Dog Food Packaging Results

  • Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe — 140 parts per million (ppm) total fluorine
  • Iams Lamb and Rice Recipe — 12 parts per million (ppm) total fluorine
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits Bacon & Steak Flavor — 590 parts per million (ppm) total fluorine
  • Pedigree High Protein Beef and Lamb Flavor — 15 parts per million (ppm) total fluorine
  • Purina Dog Chow — Non-detect total fluorine
  • Purina Puppy Chow High Protein Complete with Real Chicken — non-detect total fluorine

Cat Food Packaging Results

  • Blue Buffalo Blue Adult Indoor Health with LifeSource Bits — 71 parts per million (ppm) total fluorine
  • Iams Proactive Health Healthy Adult with Chicken — 60 parts per million (ppm) total fluorine
  • Meow Mix Tender Centers Salmon & White Meat Chicken — 630 parts per million (ppm) total fluorine
  • Purina Cat Chow Complete Chicken — 310 parts per million (ppm) total fluorine
  • Rachel Ray Nutrish Super Premium Food for Cats Real Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe — 77 parts per million (ppm) total fluorine

Mamavation has ensured these products and brands made it to our “not our favorite” category based on potential exposure to PFAS “forever chemicals” down at the bottom.

adorable brown dog

Clean Label Project Tests for Heavy Metals & Phthalates

Clean Label Project released a report in 2026 that gave us some additional information on heavy metals, phthalates and acrylamide in dog food. They didn’t share specific labs data, but they were able to give us general information on trends. Good news is they were able to share which brands had the lowest heavy metals and phthalates and we updated our study below with their findings. Here’s what they found.

Dry dog food had the highest heavy metals, acrylamide, and DEHP results

  • Arsenic (average of 184.6 ppb): 5.7x higher in arsenic than average human consumables
  • Cadmium (average of 68.5 ppb): 3.2x higher in cadmium than average human consumables
  • Mercury (average of 3.8 ppb): 2.7x higher in mercury than average human consumables
  • Lead (average of 180.1 ppb): 12.7x higher in lead than average human consumables
  • Acrylamide (average of 48.3 ppb): 24.1x higher in acrylamide than average fresh/frozen dog food
  • DEHP (average of 53.5 ppb): 10.8x higher in DEHP than average fresh/frozen dog food

Air-dried and freeze-dried dog food was a close second in heavy metals

  • Arsenic (average of 148.5 ppb): 4.6x higher in arsenic than average human consumables
  • Cadmium (average of 69.3 ppb): 3.2x higher in cadmium than average human consumables
  • Mercury (average of 2.4 ppb): 1.7x higher in mercury than average human consumables
  • Lead (average of 53.9 ppb): 3.8x higher in lead than average human consumables
  • Acrylamide (average of 27.7 ppb): 13.9x higher in acrylamide than average fresh/frozen dog food
  • DEHP (average of 27.7 ppb): 8.6x higher in DEHP than average fresh/frozen dog food

Good news, fresh/frozen dog food was by far the lowest in heavy metals and lower than the average of our 3,280 human consumables

  • Arsenic — Average of 13.9 ppb
  • Cadmium — Average of 11.3 ppb
  • Mercury — Average of 0.2 ppb
  • Lead — Average of 8.5 ppb
  • Acrylamide — Average of 2 ppb
  • DEHP — Average of 4.9 ppb

Researchers at the lab Testing supplements

Dangerous Contaminants and Adulterated Ingredients in Pet Food

There are many examples of recalled pet food due to ingredient contamination. In a recent case brought by Purina, the United States District Court in St. Louis handed down a verdict on Wilbur-Ellis Feed and Diversified Ingredients ordering them to pay a whopping $7 million for their involvement in selling poultry feathers, heads, bones, feet, and entrails as high-quality poultry meal to Blue Buffalo and other pet food manufacturers.

There’s a problem with toxic chemical contamination as well. According to research conducted by Cornell University, glyphosate (the active ingredient in RoundUp) is pervasive in the pet food industry. Scientists tested 18 different commercial cat and dog foods, and ALL of them contained detectable glyphosate. Their findings also connected the presence of glyphosate to the fiber content of the food which suggests a plant-based origin. This is not surprising because we already know that crops are often sprayed heavily from beginning growth to end harvesting, and this is just more proof that this toxic, persistent herbicide remains in the final product.

Surprisingly, the concentration of glyphosate in pet foods could very well result in exposures up to 12x higher than that of humans! Scientists also noted the limited available information about the effects on glyphosate on cats and dogs which means we really have no idea how bad this is affecting them. Unfortunately, the brands that were tested have not been released. Don’t worry, we made sure to ensure all our “best” brands use only organic legumes.

In addition, there are other dangerous contaminants like pentobarbital, the drug used to euthanize animals. In fact, the FDA put out a report that says, “There appear to be associations between rendered or hydrolyzed ingredients and the presence of pentobarbital in dog food. The ingredients Meat and Bone Meal, Beef and Bone Meal, Animal Fat, and Animal Digest are rendered or hydrolyzed from animal sources that could include euthanized animals.” This led us to an automatic demotion of any brand with products that contained any of these ingredients.

Natural organic non-toxic Dog food in a bowl on wooden table

Dog Food Ingredients to Avoid

These are ingredients commonly found in dog foods across the board. Many of them are principal ingredients and originate from unknown sources which makes them inherently dangerous for consumption. The truth is dogs have sensitive stomachs and digestion and depending on what nutrients you feed them or whether they have food allergies or sensitivities, you can make them pretty miserable. Pay close attention to the breed of your dog and what types of health conditions they suffer from to give them the best food.

Here are some basic principles to guide you when you are looking for wet dog food, dry kibble, or whatever else you need for your dog. Please talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s diet before making any changes.

  • All types of meat by-products, by-product meals, meat meals, and meat and bones meals can be sourced from any number of places including diseased animals, non-slaughtered dead animals, euthanized animals, or decomposing animals, which means they may also be contaminated with the euthanasia drug, pentobarbital. By and large, the source of the meat is a mystery and high-quality dog food will never include this.
  • Poultry and animal fat, animal digest, and porcine/pork plasma have unknown origins and can be sourced from diseased animals, non-slaughtered dead animals, euthanized animals, or decomposing animals, which means they may also be contaminated with the euthanasia drug, pentobarbital, and the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus. High fat diets can also cause pancreatitis in dogs.
  • BHA and BHT are toxic preservatives and endocrine disruptors and are reasonably anticipated to be carcinogenic as stated by the NIH National Toxicology Program.
  • Natural flavors is an umbrella term that legally hides an alarming variety of ingredients (some chemically distilled) through laws designed to protect trade secrets. By definition, it’s any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional. That can include a LOT of different substances.
  • Carrageenan is irritating to the digestive system and can cause diarrhea
  • Garlic & Onions can be poisonous & toxic to your pup in larger quantities. Onions & garlic contain disulfides and sulfoxides (thiosulphate), both of which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in your dog. Signs may include weakness, vomiting, and trouble breathing.
  • Yeast can cause digestive discomfort to dogs with lots of gas and farting. In severe cases, too much yeast can lead to rupturing the stomach and intestines.
  • Artificial colors and flavors should be avoided because they’re synthetic ingredients that can come from anything that is inedible (even petroleum) and is processed to create chemicals of flavorings and colors.
  • Too Much Liver or other organ meats can be problematic too. You can give a little bit to your pup, but liver contains quite a bit of vitamin A, which can adversely affect your dog’s joints and cause gastrointestinal problems. Unfortunately, this was too common in dog food to avoid, so we suggest you vary flavors when you feed your pup.
  • Too Much Pea Ingredients and other legumes can have other ingredients that interfere with glucose regulation and lead to intestinal irritation if eaten in large quantities over long period. Because of the “grain-free” dog food movement, this is impossible to avoid, so we again suggest you vary flavors. Also, make sure if you see legume-based ingredients, they are using an organic ingredient because glyphosate is high in legumes.

Happy dog with red bowl

Lack of Oversight in Pet Food Manufacturing

Can you believe the FDA has actually admitted that they don’t actively enforce the law with pet food? The United States law, Title 21, Chapter 9, Subchapter IV, Section 342 states that food (including animal/pet food) is considered adulterated if it is sourced from a non-slaughtered animal.

But in 2016, the FDA openly stated they will continue to “…allow animals that have died other than by slaughter that are further processed; we will allow those ingredients in pet food [because] processed pet food, including pet food consisting of material from diseased animals or animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, goes through a kill step, such as heat processing, which is designed to kill harmful bacteria.” Nasty.

Any pet food containing one of the following ingredients could contain diseased animal material, non-slaughtered dead animal material, euthanized animal material, and/or decomposing animal material, and there’s no source requirement: chicken by-products, chicken by-product meal, turkey by-products, turkey by-product meal, meat meal, beef meal, lamb meal, venison meal, meat and bone meal, animal fat and animal digest.

Another problem is regulations do not require pet food to disclose what percentage of the total pet food is present. That information is considered a ‘recipe’ and would be proprietary. What they do mandate is that pet food ingredients be listed in order of pre-cooking weight, with the heaviest ingredient first.

non-toxic dog food investigation

What do “natural” and “organic” Labeling Terms Mean on Dog Food Labels?

According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the definition of “natural” means the following:

“a feed or feed ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subject to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis or fermentation, but not having been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts as might occur in good manufacturing practices.”

Typically this really means the product is “free-from” corn, wheat, soy, food processing byproducts, and artificial colors. But because this marketing term is not regulated, it could really mean anything, so make sure to read the ingredients to be sure you understand what you are buying.

Organic to the rescue! In terms of “organic,” there are very specific definitions and terms regulated by the USDA. AAFCO explains that to be labeled “organic,” animal foods must meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s production and handling standards for organic foods. This is primarily concerned with human-grade food, but in terms of dog food is the same.

USDA organic products must contain at least 95% organic ingredients to receive the organic seal. These ingredients must be grown without certain pesticides, artificial fertilizers, genetic modification, irradiation, or sewage sludge. Organic animal ingredients, including meat & eggs, must come from animals raised on organic feed, given access to the outdoors, and not treated with antibiotics or hormones.

Dog looking for more dog food

FDA Has Concerns About “Grain-Free” and “Exotic” Dog Foods

There may be a problem with all this “grain-free” dog food. The FDA is looking into a possible link between DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs and the ingredients in certain boutique and grain-free pet foods.

In a 2018 article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, they explained the issue is not just grain-free diets, but rather, “BEG” diets (boutique companies, exotic ingredients, or grain-free diets). It’s an entire movement of new ingredients.

“The apparent link between BEG diets and DCM may be due to ingredients used to replace grains in grain-free diets, such as lentils or chickpeas, but also may be due to other common ingredients commonly found in BEG diets, such as exotic meats, vegetables, and fruits,” Freeman wrote.

Canine DCM is a heart disease in which the chambers of the heart become dilated and later the heart muscle becomes weakened and leading to heart attacks. Typically, this was only a genetic disease that was seen in Boxers, Great Dane, Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, Saint Bernards, and Doberman Pinschers, but now that isn’t the case.

Grain-free diets are full of legumes, which are also known to have higher levels of glyphosate, an herbicide also used for the desiccation of crops. Therefore, do not change your dog’s diet without a recommendation from your veterinarian.

Adorable dog waiting for his dog food

Wanna Try DIY Dog Food?

Have you ever considered making your dog’s food? You’ll need to consider how many vitamins, like vitamin e or vitamin a, niacin, calcium, minerals, fatty acids, omega-3s, & calories they are eating. You’ll also need to involve your veterinarian for additional monitoring and advice. However, when you make the dog food yourself, you won’t need to worry about fillers or pesticides (if you are using USDA organic food). You’ll be able to use some of the best ingredients like barley, brown rice, organic chickpeas, bison, lentils, and free-range chicken.

Maintenance Energy Requirement

The first thing to do is to confirm how many kilocalories your dog requires to be fed on a daily basis. This is referred to as the Daily Energy Requirement or DER. You then take the total calorie requirement and divide it by the number of meals (usually 2 plus snacks) fed to your dog daily. Make sure to include all treats and snacks in the total.

It is always recommended that before making changes to a dog’s current diet you discuss this plan with your veterinarian.

 

Dog who has had enough to eat

Dog’s Activity Level

Most pet foods come with feeding guidelines that are located on the packaging. It usually provides a large range of weight from “30 to 50 lbs.” Other dog food companies ask about activity levels like “average or highly active” but what is the most important part of the scenario is not really all this, but two things:

    • How much your dog weighs.
    • Body Condition Score (scores from 1 severely underfed to 9 severely 0bese): The body condition score is a hands-on assessment of weight and the dog’s physique. It’s based on a dog’s frame as opposed to body mass.

Obviously, a dog having a higher body condition score will not need as much food. Purina has a body condition score chart and scores the dogs in three groups of underweight, overweight, and ideal weight.

  • 1-3 is considered underweight or too thin.
  • 4-5 is considered ideal.
  • 6-9 is considered overweight or too heavy.

Woman feeding and petting puppy

Monitoring Dog While DIY Feeding to Ensure They Get Proper Nutrition

It’s important to monitor your dog if you decide to DIY feed them. You’ll need to stay in close contact with your veterinarian regarding changes you’ve noticed about your pup, good or bad. Here are some of what you will need to do:

  • Weigh your dog once per week
  • Give your dog a body condition score every week
  • Monitor closely for vomiting or diarrhea, which could mean your dog is sensitive to an ingredient. Contact the office with news about changes.

However, don’t sweat it. If you are committed to this change, you’ll work it out. But we do not recommend something like this unless you involve your veterinarian.

Hungry labrador retriever is waiting for feeding.

Basic Nutrition for Dogs — Dog Food 101

Just like us, dogs need certain types of nutrients each day to thrive. Human needs are very different than dog needs, so it’s important for your dog to get his own food. Feeding an incomplete or imbalanced diet can lead to vitamin and nutrient deficiencies.

Each dog needs enough calories to meet its energy requirements. A dog’s daily caloric need depends on the dog’s life stage and activity level.1 Your veterinarian can help you determine how many calories your dog needs each day.

  • 10% protein, such as chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef, salmon, bison, venison, or other such meat.
  • Up to 50% carbohydrates, such as rice, certain types of pasta, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin. This also provides some fiber
  • About 2.5-4.5% fiber, which can come from vegetables like organic peas, green beans, carrots, spinach, squash, or other veggies. It’s important to ensure the legumes are organic to avoid high levels of glyphosate.
  • Vitamins and mineral supplements are important to ensure dogs are getting everything they need. If this is not included, talk to your vet about what is needed to supplement.

If you are ready to get started cooking for your dog, the first step is to talk to your veterinarian. Your vet may have recipes for you to try. We’ve also collected some books for you here on how to get started.

Supplementation for Dogs

Dog may need additional supplementation when their dog food does not include it. Make sure to talk to your vet about what your specific breed needs. Some common supplements include:

  • Calcium
  • Vitamin E
  • Sardines in water or fish oil capsules daily

Dog in front of his food on the carpet

Overweight Dogs–Weight Management Tips

When dogs become overweight, they suffer from some of the following health conditions:

  • Diabetes – Carrying extra weight leads to insulin resistance, which is when the body doesn’t normally respond to insulin.
  • Arthritis – Being overweight puts unnecessary stress on joints and discs in the spine, which can lead to joint degeneration.
  • Respiratory Issues – It becomes harder to breathe when our dogs have extra fat around their airways and chest. They have to work harder to breathe.

Obviously, no one wants their dog to suffer. There are simple tips and tricks to helping your dog maintain a more healthy weight.

  • Increase their activity level.
  • Measure their food on a kitchen scale.
  • Try to find additional ways you can treat your pup that don’t include treats. Perhaps a long walk?
  • Instead of packaged treats, try substituting them with some real foods.
  • Stay clear of salt
  • Make sure the entire family is on board and isn’t sneaking them treats.

non-toxic dog food investigation

Mamavation’s Investigation of Dog Food Brands

Now we get to the nitty-gritty. We looked at over 260 different products and each one is assigned to one category: “not our favorite,” Better, Best — according to ingredient content. Note that we looked at 1-3 samples of each brand’s adult dog food formulas, both wet and dry when possible, however, there are other formulas offered by each company. Please note that some brands found products in several categories so please pay attention to products and ingredients.

Not Our Favorite Dog Foods

The massive list. This is the category for products that contain the worst ingredients. Every one of them has multiple ingredients from unknown and/or potentially contaminated sources including animal fat, animal digest, flavors, by-products and meat meals, toxic preservatives, added sugar, carrageen, and possible GMO ingredients including corn, soy, and canola. We found that many dry dog foods contain mysterious meat meals which automatically knocked them down to the bad category. We also added products that were tested by the Environmental Working Group and found to have indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.” Unfortunately, this list includes the most affordable brands that you find in common pet and grocery stores around the country. Also interestingly, a convincing label that has phrases like ‘all-natural,’ ‘ultra-premium,’ and ‘complete nutrition’ had little to do with the quality of ingredients. Please note that some brands have products in each category, so pay attention.

  • 4Health Grain-Free Puppy Digestion Chicken Dry Dog Food
  • 4Health Untamed All Life Stages Grain-Free Buffalo & Lentils Dry Dog Food
  • 4Health Wholesome Grains Lamb & Rice Adult Dry Dog Food
  • ACANA Limited Ingredient Duck & Pear Recipe Dry Food
  • ACANA Puppy & Junior Recipe Dry Dog Food
  • ACANA Red Meat Recipe Dry Dog Food
  • ACANA Wholesome Grains Small Breed Recipe Dry Food
  • ACANA Wild Atlantic Recipe Dry Dog Food
  • American Journey Active Life Puppy Formula (Salmon, Brown Rice, & Vegetables)
  • American Journey Active Life Wet Dog Food (Turkey & Vegetables)
  • American Journey Dry Dog Food (Salmon & Sweet Potato)
  • American Journey Grain-Free Dry Dog Food (Duck & Sweet Potato)
  • ASPIRE Chicken & Rice Formula
  • Authority High Performance All Life Stages -Turkey, Pea, Duck, & Salmon, Grain Free
  • Authority Sensitive Stomach & Skin All Ages Dry Dog Food – Lamb & Rice
  • Authority Tender Blends Small Breed Chicken & Rice
  • Black Gold Grain Free Game Bird with Turkey & Quail
  • Black Gold Mature 7+ Formula
  • Black Gold Puppy Formula
  • Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe — 140 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine found in packaging.
  • Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Adult Dog Food – Lamb & Potato (packaging concerns)
  • Blue Buffalo BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Bison  (packaging concerns)
  • Blue Buffalo BLUE Wilderness Turkey & Chicken Grill Grain-Free Puppy (packaging concerns)
  • Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain Free Adult Dog Food- Chicken (packaging concerns)
  • Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Dry Dog Food  (packaging concerns)
  • Canadian Naturals Grain-Free Value Series Chicken Small Breed
  • Canadian Naturals Lamb & Rice Value Series
  • Canadian Naturals Sweet Potato & Venison Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free
  • Canadian Naturals Turkey & Salmon Senior
  • Canidae All Life Stages Chicken Meal & Rice formula
  • Canidae PURE Grain Free Limited Ingredient, Salmon & Sweet Potato
  • Cesar Rotisserie Chicken Flavor & Spring Vegetables Dry Food
  • Diamond Hi-Energy formulated for sporting dogs
  • Diamond Naturals All Life Stages Dog Chicken & Rice Formula
  • Dr. Gary’s Best Breed Holistic All Breed Dry Dog Food
  • Earthborn Holistic Great Plains Feast Grain-Free
  • Eukanuba Adult Small Bites Dry Dog Food
  • Evangers Super Premium Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
  • First Mate Cage-Free Duck Meal & Pumpkin Formula
  • FreshPet Vital Grain-Free Beef & Bison Fresh Dog Food
  • FreshPet Vital Grain Free Chicken, Beef, Salmon, & Egg Recipe
  • Fromm Puppy Gold Dog Food
  • Gentle Giants Adult Dry Dog Food – Chicken
  • Gentle Giants Dog Food – Salmon
  • Halo Elevate Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dry Food
  • Hi Standard Premium Performance Puppy Food
  • Hi Standard Pure Grain Free Dog food
  • Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Care i/d Low Fat Canine
  • Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Chicken Dry Dog Food
  • Hill’s Prescription Diet Kidney Care k/d with Lamb Wet Dog Food
  • Hills Science Diet Adult Large Breed Chicken & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food
  • Hills Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Small & Mini Adult Dry Food
  • Holistic Select Adult Health Lamb Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food
  • Iams Lambe & Rice Recipe — 12 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine inside the packaging.
  • IAMS MiniChunks Chicken & Whole Grains (packaging concerns)
  • IAMS Proactive Health Pate’ with Lamb & Rice Canned (packaging concerns)
  • Inception Pork Recipe Dry Dog Food
  • Instinct Raw Boost Whole Grain Real Lamb & Oatmeal Recipe Freeze-Dried Kibble + Raw
  • KASIKS Free Range Lamb Meal Formula
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits Bacon & Steak Flavor — 590 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine in packaging, which is indicative of PFAS.
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors (packaging concerns)
  • Kirkland Nature’s Domain Signature Puppy Formula Chicken, Rice, & Vegetable
  • Life’s Abundance Small & Medium Breed Puppy
  • Merrick Healthy Grains Freeze-Dried Raw-Coated Kibble Real Beef + Brown Rice
  • Merrick Healthy Grains Real Lamb + Brown Rice with Ancient Grains
  • Midwestern Pet Food SportMix Dog Food
  • Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Duck & Brown Rice Dry Dog Formula
  • Nature’s Domain Beef Meal & Sweet Potato Dog Food
  • Nature’s Domain Turkey Meal & Sweet Potato Dry Food
  • Nature’s Logic Canine Turkey Feast
  • Nature’s Logic Distinction Grain-Free Red Recipe
  • Nature’s Logic Original Canine Lamb Meal Feast
  • Newman’s Own Organics Grain-Free Chicken Dinner Canned Dog Food
  • Now FRESH Shredded Turkey Recipe with Bone Broth Gravy
  • Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Kibble Turkey & Sweet Potato Recipe
  • Nutri Life Grain Free Beef Dog Food
  • NutriSource Adult Chicken & Rice Recipe
  • NutriSource Grain Free Lamb Meal & Peas Recipe
  • NutriSource Pure Vita Limited Ingredient Venison & Red Lentils Entree Grain Free
  • Nutro Hearty Stew Turkey, Sweet Potato & Green Bean Cuts in Gravy Canned Dog Food
  • Nutro Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Lentils
  • Nutro So Simple Adult Chicken & Rice Recipe
  • Open Farm Wild-Caught Salmon & Ancient Grains
  • PawTree Real Turkey & Sweet Potato Recipe
  • Pedigree High Protein Beef and Lamb Flavor — 15 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine in packaging which is indicative of PFAS.
  • Pedigree Adult Complete Nutritional Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food (packaging concerns)
  • Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner with Chicken Canned Dog Food (packaging concerns)
  • Pure Balance Wild & Free Grass-Fed Beef & Wild Boar Recipe Grain-Free
  • Purina ALPO Prime Cuts Savory Beef Flavor Dry Dog Food
  • Purina Bella Pate
  • Purina Beyond Superfood Blend Wild-Caught Salmon, Egg, & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Food
  • Purina Dog Chow Dry Dog Food Complete Adult with Real Chicken
  • Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Complete Essentials Shredded Beef & Rice
  • Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind Large Breed Formula Chicken & Rice
  • Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice
  • Purina Pro Plan Small Bites Lamb & Rice
  • Purina Puppy Chow
  • Rachael Ray Nutrish – Beef & Brown Rice
  • Rachael Ray Nutrish – Chicken & Brown Rice
  • Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Dog Food – Salmon & Sweet Potato
  • Rayne Adult Optimal Choice Dry Canine Bag
  • Simply Nourish Natural Chicken & Rice Adult Dry Dog Food
  • Solid Gold Star Chaser Chicken & Brown Rice with Vegetables Adult Dry Dog Food
  • Solid Gold Sunday Sunrise Grain-Free Lamb, Sweet Potato, & Pea Dry Dog Food
  • Stella & Chewy’s Wild Red Raw Coated Kibble Wholesome Grains Read Meat Recipe
  • Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon Grain-Free Dog Food
  • TLC Whole Life Dog Food
  • Trisha Yearwood All Natural Chicken & Vegetables Recipe
  • Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal
  • Wellness Complete Health Grain Free Lamb & Lamb Meal
  • Wellness Complete Health Pate’ Just for Puppy
  • Wellness CORE Digestive Health Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice
  • Wellness CORE Pate’ Beef, Venison, & Lamb
  • Wellness CORE RawRev Grain-Free Wild Game + 100% Raw Lamb
  • Wellness CORE RawRev Wholesome Grains Puppy Food Formula + 100% Raw Turkey
  • Whole Foods Market Whole Paws Grain-Free Salmon & Pea Recipe
  • Whole Foods Market Whole Paws Lamb Dinner Dog Food
  • WholeHearted Grain Free All Life Stages Lamb & Lentil Recipe
  • WholeHearted with Whole Grains Pate’ Beef & Brown Rice Recipe
  • Wysong Optimal Adult Dry Dog Food
  • Zignature Duck Formula Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dog Food

non-toxic dog food investigation

Better Dog Food

The Better category contains products that have very few questionable ingredients. These foods aren’t perfect, but they’re far better for dogs than those listed in the “not our favorite” category and are nutritionally acceptable. Here’s where we start seeing a sharp uptick in wet vs dry dog food. It’s clear that wet foods have better quality ingredients, fewer additives and would seem to be overall healthier with the added water content. Please note that some brands had products in each category so please pay attention.

non-toxic dog food investigation

Best Dog Food

As usual, our Best category is the shortest list. These dog foods make the cut because they have more quality, whole food ingredients, no additives, and are meat-based. Some of them also contain organic meat and vegetables, but you’ll not find meals or by-products. All legumes here are organic in order to avoid high levels of glyphosate contamination. You’ll notice that there are no conventional dry foods in this section. We also wanted to warn you that most of these brands do not include additional vitamins & minerals. Some of them do, but not all of them. Please contact your Veterinarian to see if supplementation of additional vitamins and minerals are needed. [Update: We’ve also added products tested & cleared for heavy metals and phthalates by Clean Label Project in 2026.]

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