Retail Chemistry

While we thought the egg recall was more of a story than first reported we were curious as to why the story wasn't being told. It was something that could frighten every single home with a refrigerator. It's not a time to panic when the news tries to scare you. Journalism has never been ahead of the curve. Stories don't tend to be exposes resulting from days or weeks of investigative reporting especially with cutbacks and layoffs expect more press released information. Bloggers will be the next generation of truth seekers especially those with news backgrounds. At least the leads will come from the fine print.

Chemicals that companies know aren't necessary but if they're not hiring their not making immediate changes in purchasing or investing in more expensive alternative unless forced by consumers whom they don't trust or government agencies whom consumers don't trust.

"Some paper manufacturers - including industry giant Appleton Papers Inc. - have phased out BPA in their products. And receipts from registers at Target, Starbucks and Bank of America ATMs, were BPA-free or contained only trace amounts, the study said."  (SF Gate)

It's not every business and every CEO but then we found this story in the Washington Post: CEOs Aren't hiring! We'd speculate that the employees they're retaining are the non-union compliant workers who wouldn't dare suggest that the company change their receipts for the health and/or benefit of their employees. As consumers we can ask if the companies are compliant for our own concern. If we're concerned about the employees who might also look out for us we will urge the companies to comply.

"The total amounts of BPA on receipts tested were 250 to 1,000 times greater than other, more widely discussed sources of BPA exposure, including canned foods, baby bottles and infant formula. These data should not be interpreted to suggest that policymakers shift their focus from BPA contamination of food, which is widespread, to receipts. BPA exposure from food sources is ubiquitous and should remain the first priority of U.S. policymakers. However, a significant portion of the public may also be exposed to BPA by handling receipts. Since many retailers do not use BPA-laden thermal paper, this particular route of exposure is easy to correct." (USA Today)

No you shouldn't be afraid but concern can't hurt. Much like the egg recall it's not something that'll be found in dangerous quantities to seriously impact your help but it can be cumulative in its effects. We just think its interesting that the news isn't what we'd like to know as news. Two stories that show danger but little serious risk to us in our homes. The risk is when we're out and about in our local and national businesses.

"BPA, a plastic hardener and synthetic estrogen linked by researchers to a long list of serious health problems, is used to coat thermal paper used by major retailers, grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, fast-food restaurants, post offices and automatic teller machines (ATMs). The chemical reacts with dye to form black print on receipts handled by millions of Americans every day." (Environmental Working Group)

If you want to be afraid it doesn't mean you shouldn't touch your receipts, we still do. It does mean if you work in retail then you should be extra careful changing the roll and loading your register. It can cost you more than your job. Just be careful out there.

"The little printouts from grocery and big box stores, fast food joints, and other consumer outlets actually contain high levels of the chemical bisphenol-A. In lab tests, the substance has been linked to several types of health problems in animals including abnormal reproductive system development, diminished intellectual capacity and behavioral abnormalities. When handled by humans, BPA can contaminate fingers, and seep into the skin even to a point where it can't be removed, this entering the bloodstream." (Time)

There's a twenty-two (22) minute video presentation of a mostly boring presentation. Unfortunately the information is frighteningly scary and convincing. Entitled "10 Americans" its hard to contradict the information contained inside. It's not our intent to scare you but we believe that you, like we, can handle the truth! Truth is what we're about as harsh and scary as it can be. It's made by the Environmental Working Group.

"If you believe in things you don't understand then you suffer. Superstition ain't the way!" - Stevie Wonder