I just put down an article I was reading in the Longevity Journal newsletter and they are saying mental illiness is turning up more often and at a younger age. They also said it could be all the chemical additatives in our foods and it begins in baby foods unless we make our own from pure substances. Also moms feed kids junk earlier in life because it is easier to hand them a cupcake, candy or ice cream than to feed them more natural snacks, like veges. I told my DIL not to have that junk in the house so Jason didn't get use to junk and he never did.

Interesting concept, Chatty. I hadn't heard of the article in Longevity, but the logic of food additives causing brain disturbances that lead to mental illness makes sense.

I made the baby food for my daughter, but didn't have time to do the same for my son. Few working parents probably do have that time, unless things have changed drastically since my kids were babes.

As for feeding junk foods earlier in life -- there are so many issues at play in the decisions we make on what we feed our children. We'd have to pass dozens of laws before we could possibly mandate the death of junk food. I'm not sure we'll see that in our lifetimes.

Instead, we may have to opt for - perhaps I should say pray for -- better education of our young parents -- and easy options for allowing them to make better food choices.

I think there was research done back in the 60s or 70s showing a relationship between food additives and ADHD. I'll have to ask my partner who the guy was that did the study; my partner wrote a paper on it when he was in college so he might remember the guys name.

And I'm not sure that legislation is going to make a difference, but education might. Then there's the economic factor, sometimes fast food is actually cheaper and more filling. I know when I was younger, I didn't pay attention to what I was eating. It wasn't until I was pregnant that I really tried to eat healthier.

It takes time to read product labeling, but some disclaimers
say an item has not been approved by FDA. And some straight out admit, having cancer causing agents. Guess we take our lives in our own hands on a daily basis. Here's praying all of
you and your loved ones remain safe!

The Environmental Working Group has a website that you might like. Not only do they have listings of toxic chemicals we encounter daily, but they also have a Cosmetics Database that lists personal care products by brand name along with a list of their ingredients and what those ingredients do. They list each item as being anywhere from 0 to 10 with 0 being the least toxic.

I believe you're right about the research done in the 60s/70s Yonuh.

Back in the 80s when my kids were babies and I was in my "Earth Mother" stage -- growing my own veggies, making my own bread, canning my produce and hand-processing baby food -- I had a poster on the wall in my kitchen that was all about food additives.

My recollection is that I learned about it on the "Phil Donahue" show, and that I sent away for it. Somehow I am thinking the poster was published by the CDC...

Feingold was the guy's name.

The so called scientists have so much crap added to our food about the only way to be sure something is aafe is to pick it yourself, wash it off and eat it. Ah! but then we must also wonder what is in the soil, fertilizer, pesticides or what, and how much of it? Lets face it people we haven't got a chance in hell of making it off this earth alive, LOL!!!

I have often wondered if the amount of food additives could be related to the horrendous increase we are seeing of children with autism.

The thinking that autism is more prelevent at present

..
In the past before society was more open there were many undiagnosed conditions..more people were instituionised and
without knowing and researching data from the past we really dont know if there are more children who develop autism today.

Not so long ago even dyslexia was not fully understood and the child could be wrongly labelled as being lazy...of low iq resulting often in antisocial behaviour due to frustration felt by the child..A no win situation

I do think a healthy balanced diet adequet sleep and daily exercise is a childs birthright.Food additives to be avoided