Don’t you know that you’re toxic?

Book’s author on pollutants you’re buying as food

PROFILE. From beef recalls to lead in toys to contaminated pet food, what we put on and in our bodies is gaining national attention. And although it’s these large-scale recalls that get the most press, it’s the small, hidden toxins, the ones that are legal and deemed safe to use, that concern Patricia Thomas, editor of Ecologist magazine and author of the recently published “What’s In This Stuff? The Hidden Toxins in Everyday Products — and What You Can Do About Them” (Perigree, $18).

Manufacturers and suppliers aim to create convenient and affordable foods and products, and, according to Thomas, our health and safety is being compromised in the process. These mass-produced foods and products can contain carcinogens, hormone-disrupting chemicals and reproductive toxins — meaning, you could be polluting your body and not even know it.

“These days, being a savvy consumer is about buying and using products wisely,” Thomas says. Being a smart shopper is more than just getting the most bang for your buck, she insists. With a University of Idaho study released last week stating that environmental toxins can cause genetic defects in sperm, the results of which can be passed down through generations, and the U.S. National Toxicology Program saying that the average person encounters 200 chemicals that are known or potential carcinogens every day, being aware of what is in the products you purchase can have a life-long effect.

“Look at the number of people now who buy organic food or ethical and fair trade products,” Thomas says. “People want to know that the products they buy are safe and that words like ‘natural’ actually have a meaning beyond being a marketing ploy.”

Thomas recommends looking at shopping a new way — buy less, shop locally, reuse and recycle, and saying goodbye to brand loyalty to cut the chemical cocktail out of your life. Being discriminating about the products you buy, reading labels, learning what ingredients you want to avoid and getting rid of the highly processed convenience food can seem overwhelming, but Thomas says it’s anything but complicated.