Il veleno nel piatto: I rischi mortali nascosti in quello che mangiamo

by Marie-Monique Robin, Bruno Amato (Translator), Matteo Schianchi (Translator)

Gli alimenti contengono il più delle volte prodotti chimici tossici. Si tratta di un dato di cui i consumatori sono all’oscuro. In un’inchiesta choc di un’importante giornalista – pluripremiata in tutto il mondo per i suoi libri – le responsabilità, le omissioni, le complicità che minano la sicurezza dell’intera catena produttiva del cibo.

“Come valutare la nocività di queste sostanze che si infilano tra la pera e il formaggio nei nostri piatti? Le materie plastiche e gli additivi sono proprio così pericolosi come sospettano numerose associazioni di difesa dell’ambiente? È la quantità a fare il veleno, rispondono gli industriali e per questa ragione hanno inventato il concetto di ‘dose quotidiana accettabile’, cioè la quantità che si può ingerire ogni giorno senza effetti sulla salute. Ma questi prodotti chimici sono veramente senza effetti? È questo l’interrogativo a cui risponde Marie-Monique Robin nel suo libro.”
“Ça m’interesse”

Moltissime ricerche scientifiche ed epidemiologiche segnalano che nel corso degli ultimi trent’anni il tasso di incidenza dei tumori è aumentato del 40 per cento in paesi come gli Stati Uniti, la Norvegia e la Svezia.
Sempre in questo lasso di tempo la progressione delle leucemie e dei tumori cerebrali tra i bambini (secondo quanto sostengono gli studi dell’International Agency for Research on Cancer) è stato del 2 per cento annuo. Per non parlare dell’evoluzione simile per le malattie neurologiche (Parkinson e Alzheimer) e autoimmuni. Come spiegare questa epidemia inquietante, che colpisce soprattutto i paesi “sviluppati”?
Alla domanda risponde Marie-Monique Robin in questo libro choc, frutto di un’inchiesta condotta per due anni tra America del Nord, Asia ed Europa (anche in Italia). Nell’appoggiarsi su numerosi studi scientifici, ma anche sulle testimonianze dei ricercatori e dei rappresentanti delle agenzie di regolamentazione, l’autrice dimostra che la causa principale di questa vera e propria epidemia è di tipo ambientale. In particolare per la presenza di decine di molecole chimiche che hanno invaso il nostro ambito quotidiano e l’alimentazione dalla fine della Seconda guerra mondiale.
Per questo, l’autrice ripercorre l’intera catena produttiva del cibo: dall’utilizzo dei pesticidi nei campi fino all’impiego di additivi e plastiche per uso alimentare nei nostri piatti. Nel fare ciò mette a nudo il sistema di valutazione e omologazione dei prodotti chimici, attraverso gli esempi emblematici dei pesticidi, dell’aspartame e del bisfenolo A. E infine descrive le pressioni e le manipolazioni messe in atto dall’industria chimica per mantenere sul mercato prodotti altamente tossici.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Food, Science, Environment, Journalism, Nature

435 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2011

About the author

from Wikipedia: Marie-Monique Robin is a French TV journalist and documentary filmmaker. She generally issues books and documentary films together on the topics she investigates.

Her work has been recognized by numerous awards: the 1995 Albert Londres Prize for Voleurs d'yeux (1994), an expose about organ theft; best political documentary award from the French Senate for Escadrons de la mort, l'école française (2003), her film about France's transfer of counter-insurgency techniques (including torture) to Argentina; and the Rachel Carson Prize for Le monde selon Monsanto (2008), her film on Monsanto and challenges to the environment from its products, including GMOs.

Reviews

[James Steele]

The chemical industry knows very well its products are dangerous, so they fund scientists to create flawed studies to cast doubt on real research that shows the various chemicals in pesticides, herbicides, plastics and various other common products are in fact responsible for the cancer outbreak and many other diseases and conditions we observe happening today.

It’s not just that we’re better at detecting it. We are exposed to so many chemicals on a daily basis that make us sick, and we are naive to think they don’t have an affect on us. The regulations that are supposed to protect us are written for the benefit of big business. Since business needs won’t allow an outright ban on these chemicals, the compromise is to limit exposure to minimize risk. This means 1 million people will get sick, as opposed to a hundred million. This is the reality of the regulations we face. These levels are acceptable. Regulations are doing exactly what they are supposed to do.

Are we satisfied? We shouldn’t be, not when aspartame is on the market when so many studies have shown it to be dangerous. The old quip is “well, everything causes cancer!” That observation isn’t just a lighthearted joke. It is the truth, and it’s because we have allowed these artificial chemicals to invade the environment. Even though we may only get a low dose, over the course of a lifetime, the effects stack up until you reach a certain age when they manifest in the form of cancer or obesity or any number of other things.

We are living in a chemical world. We are surrounded by toxins. They’re everywhere, in everything, and they do affect us in the long term. The companies responsible for these chemicals make sure to create confusion and doubt in the scientific world, discredit anyone sounding the alarm, and fund their own studies to misrepresent the results to protect their business.

People dismiss these studies as “I am not a lab rat.” Rats are mammals with the same hormones and life processes as humans, and we choose to believe what effects them cannot affect us? The drug and chemical industry is quick to cite animal studies that prove their products are effective, but quick to distance themselves from animal studies that show they cause any harm. They cannot have it both ways.

Chemical residue is everywhere. Plastics can leech into the food we eat and the water we drink. Pesticides enter our water supply and are present on the food we consume. Chemicals used in meat processing are still on the meat when we receive it. All of this is known, and it is believed limiting the levels of residue to certain amounts will be “safe.” It isn’t. It still affects us, and the effects accumulate over a lifetime. These companies are making us sick, and it’s all in the name of business. We have filled our world with artificial chemicals. They are the reason we have all these diseases and cancers today. What’s even scarier: the same companies who pollute and make us sick are also manufacturing the devices used to treat those diseases. What a perfect system of profit.

[Amanda]

Equal parts frightening and infuriating, 'Our Daily Poison' is a look at the connections between the ever-expanding chemical industry and the rise in diseases in the developed world. It details the connections between the chemical industry and the governments that oversee them, the infamous "revolving door" that is still alive and well. It provides the science (or lack-thereof) behind the ADI (acceptable daily intake) and REL (recommended exposure limits) levels set by regulatory agencies. It illustrates the ways that (some) studies are able to cheat the system. It uncovers the paper trail of lies being fed to the public and regulatory agencies in order to keep producing the chemicals that have pervaded our environment. And, it puts faces to the agricultural and industrial workers that have developed serious illnesses from exposure to these "safe" chemicals. It also highlights several people, both in government and independent agencies, that are trying to make changes to better protect the world's population.

As a family, we've eaten organic for years, looked for BPA-free plastics (though, coincidentally, I read an article yesterday that chemical companies are switching out BPA for BPS and other chemicals that are at least as equally dangerous), and chosen all-natural alternatives whenever possible. But, as with anything, we've grown a little lax (read a little lazy) about our exposure. This book has motivated me to pay more attention, spend that little extra & drive a little farther to go to the 'good' grocery store with the bigger selection of organic produce, to use glass containers instead of plastic, and to continue to look for all-natural household and body products like sunscreen and shampoo.

[Victoria Rogowski]

This book was extremely tedious to read. Some of the facts were eye-opening, but you had to comb through so much jargon and monotony to get to them. I found the overall structure of this book to be disorganized, with vague chapter titles and subheadings sprinkled throughout. The facts lose their effect when they are presented in a haphazard way.

I also resented the fact that the author wrote an entire chapter in which she paraphrased Rachel Carson. It's been done.

Admittedly, this book didn't serve my purposes. I appreciate how thorough the author is in making her point, and many of the facts speak for themselves. However, I read this with the perspective of a farmer who wants to be sustainable and yet understands the necessity of pesticides. The author sets out to explain how chemicals are making us sick, and she does just that, but with limited acknowledgment of the hardships that farmers face when combatting pests and diseases. On several occasions she blames the chemical manufacturers for "duping" farmers into thinking chemicals are harmless, and I didn't appreciate the portrayal of farmers as simpletons in that respect.

This book successfully got me thinking about the toxicity of pesticides, but once you've read the first chapter in each section, you've gotten the point.

[Meowzette]

Well written research for the layperson

Even if you are aware of the dangers in our food system, you will still be surprised (or perhaps horrified is a better word) by what the author has uncovered.

This book is well written. For those who can follow chemical/molecular processes, you will find it here; if you just want to know more basically “What does that mean?” The author will also summarize.

My only complaint would be there isn’t a list of what to absolutely avoid, or the worst polluted food, etc. The chapter that included cancer research and what was good/bad was awesome, worth the price for me to have understood that.

I look forward to reading her book on Monsanto. Egads.

[Alison Sumprer]

Enlightening and absolutely terrifying look into the effects of pesticides and other chemicals affecting our health. If you're at all concerned about Monsanto, the rise of chronic disease, cancer, or the amount of chemicals being put into practically everything today, you will not be disappointed with this book.

[Ankit Dewan]

The book is a bit heavy. Plus most of the analysis shared is from 1950s to 1980s or even as old as 2005 which was a bit disappointing(specially in part 2). However the author has done a great research and it takes my heart away how we are exposing our environment and compromising everything. Hygiene is just so talked but what if the food itself has toxins.

[Anthony]

"The manipulation of science, the funding effect, defamation campaigns, the public authorities complacency, and media brain washings make up this chemical brew. And those who sell us drugs to treat our chronic diseases are the same who polluted us and continue to pollute us..."

[Gisela Ks]

I only buy organic food ever since I read this book. Marie-Monique Robin is my definition of a journalist.

[Cara Byrne]

Translated from French and written by an award-winning journalist, this book is compelling and rhetorically effective.

[Martinocorre]

Il commento che segue è stato scritto nel 2011, guardando le maiuscole usate direi che il me stesso disincantato di oggi è un po' triste per il me stesso di ieri, quello di oggi e per il mondo in generale.

LEGGETELO VI PREGO !!!!
Varrebbe la pena imparare il francese solo per poter leggere un libro come questo, e se il francese lo sapete già allora...LEGGETELO SUBITOOOO!!!! Leggetelo per voi stessi e per i vostri figli se un domani ne avrete! Tumori, Parkinson, malattie neurodegenerative, disturbi del sistema riproduttivo in larga parte sono tutti conseguenza della "società chimica" in cui viviamo da 60 anni, una società marcia, malata, omertosa, orientata al profitto delle multinazionali a discapito della Nostra Salute, una società in cui spesso gli scienziati sono solo mercenari prezzolati dalle grandi industrie, in cui gli enti governativi di controllo sono solo appendici dei consigli di amministrazione delle multinazionali. Ma che fine stiamo facendo? Stiamo dormendo ad occhi aperti mentre per un pugno di soldi ci stanno fottendo la nostra vita, ci preparano una morte prematura o una vecchiaia da invalidi semi-incoscienti.
Ci vuole più consapevolezza oggi, la conoscenza è potere e non ci si deve più far fottere dal Potere. Le multinazionali ti raccontano menzogne tranquillizzanti, lo Stato ti racconta menzogne tranquillizzanti, ma se non ti svegli il finale di questa storia è tragico.
Pesticidi, diserbanti, insetticidi, componenti della plastica...sono tutti veleni che minano il tuo futuro (e il tuo presente) e dei tuoi discendenti. Ti prego, apri gli occhi e cerca di capire in che razza di mondo vivi, che merda mangi (una per tutte? i dolcificanti, veleno allo stato puro) e inizia ad incazzarti come me!!!!!!!!!!

[Mahafuz]

Our Daily Poison is a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the chemicals that can enter our food system and the complicated journey from agriculture and manufacturing to the food on our plates. The book encouraged me to look at everyday food choices with a much more curious and questioning perspective.

I particularly appreciated the way the book examines pesticides, additives, packaging, and the broader food-production system. It brings together scientific information, investigative research, and real-world examples to explore questions about how chemicals are evaluated and how exposure can occur throughout the food chain.

The subject matter can be unsettling at times, but that is also what makes the book so compelling. Rather than treating food safety as a simple issue, it explores the complexity of regulation, industry practices, scientific evidence, and consumer awareness. I found myself thinking about labels, ingredients, and food production long after finishing the book.

The writing makes a complicated subject accessible without losing its seriousness. It is the kind of book that encourages readers to become more informed and to ask better questions about the food they consume and the systems responsible for producing it.

Five stars for its engaging investigation, fascinating subject matter, and ability to make an ordinary part of daily life feel worth examining more closely. A memorable read for anyone interested in food, environmental health, agriculture, and the science behind what we eat.

[Carrie Jensen]

I have to admit I didn’t read every word of this book because it was a bit tedious. I also was frustrated that so much of the data was from France, which doesn’t directly relate to me. However, some of the major points were good.

[Chris Demer]

This book was somewhat dense, but extremely important in its explanation of the levels of toxic products in our environment (and in our blood). The author and many others believe that the dramatic increase in certain diseases-cancer, neurological and reproductive problems stem from the toxic burden we bear as a result of the hundreds of tons of pesticides sprayed on crops, especially in the developed countries. There is no question that the rise in certain chronic diseases and endocrine disorders parallels the increase in usage of these poisons since the Second World war.
Meanwhile, the organizations and government agencies designed to protect the environment and the health of the citizens, mostly rely on studies of "safety" paid for by the chemical companies that make the toxic chemicals. Industry is extraordinarily devious it its efforts to protect its massive incomes from being diminished by the prohibition of any of their toxins.

A couple of the main take-aways from this book that I had not previously given thought to:
Chemical and fertilizer industries claim that studies on animals do not necessarily transfer to humans, although it has long been scientifically acknowledged that animal studies are crucial to the development of pharmaceuticals because they can stand in for human studies that are impossible or unethical.

To quote Devra Davis "Where animal studies on the causes of cancer exist they are often faulted as not relevant to humans. Yet when studies of almost identical design are employed to craft novel treatments and therapies, the physiological differences between animals and humans become suddenly insignificant."

Another important point:
Chemical industries treat all toxins the same-assuming smaller doses create less negative effect. However, when it comes to hormone disruptors, very tiny doses at critical times can have a more devastating effect than larger doses because of the way hormones work.

This is a devastating critique of the industrial complex that continues to poison the environment, and thus those who live in it, including ourselves, with abandon and with very little regulation from the very bodies we have created to develop and implement that regulation.

An important book for those who value their health- and the health of their children.

[Samuel Wells]

An important book showing how prevalent toxins have become in our industrial society. Robin is a thorough, if tendentious, journalist. She clearly has an agenda but makes a compelling point: that industrial toxins are a big problem for our health. This book will be well received by those who are concerned about contaminated food. It will also shock many who are less informed on these issues.

Some of her arguments need greater balance, such as her equation of science with war and the presumption that chemicals are not being stewarded correctly through legal channels. In fact many of the chemicals we use are very helpful and safe.

But Robin's arguments should not be ignored. The unsettling truth is that many widely used chemicals are routinely pulled from the marketplace because we discover (too late in many instances) that they have harmful - even lethal - long-term effects. It still remains to be seen just how legitimate many of Robin's claims will be. But it would not be unreasonable to see her sitting next to Rachel Carson in future years in environmentalism's hall of fame.

[Roxanne]

This book I checked out because we have way too many chemicals in our food supply. I really rinse all produce very well. I live in a state where I see cropdusters every day spraying chemicals even on our local grown food. We grew our own garden this year and we using jalapeno peppers and garlic and eggshells to protect the plants. This needs to be addressed so people quit getting sick.

[Benjamin]

Important book. While intended for a popular audience, the language at times can appear overly dense and heavy with scientific jargon; however, the extra effort required is worth it. The first about third of the book should be read consecutively, after that it would be possible to read the chapter(s) the revolve around specific topics.

[Ruth]

The scary thing is that even vegans aren't safe because of all of the chemicals and toxins that have leeched into the soil and water. And who can really afford nothing but bottled water for everything?