Treat your guests to a home and food that are healthy for them and the environment.

New for you this year: our Meat Eater's Guide to Climate and Health. What's the difference between cage-free and free-range? Grass-fed and pasture-raised? Our label decoder demystifies shopping - everyone needs one!

Back by popular demand -- holiday kitchen tips from Jane Houlihan, senior vice president for research at Environmental Working Group:

1. Choose food low in added chemicals and pollutants
Food can contain ingredients we don't want to eat - pesticides, hormones, artificial additives and food packaging chemicals. Some simple tips to cut the chemicals:

• Buy organic when you can. Organic produce is grown without synthetic pesticides (I prefer my dinner without, thanks!). Organic meat and dairy products limit your family's exposure to growth hormones and antibiotics.


• It's OK to choose non-organic from our "Clean 15" less-contaminated conventional fruits and vegetables, too. EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides ranks popular fruits and vegetables based on the amount of pesticide residues found on them. Get the iPhone App).


• Cook with fresh foods, not packaged and canned, whenever you can. Food containers can leach packaging chemicals into food. I like to check in with EWG's Healthy Home Tips when planning grocery trips.


• Eat healthier meat. When shopping, look for:
  - Grass-fed or pasture-raised
  - Lean cuts
  - No antibiotics or hormones
  - Certified organic
  - Certified humane
  - Local
  - Unprocessed, nitrate-free and low sodium
  - Want to know more? Check our report

2. Use non-toxic cookware
Using a great pan makes a huge difference. I skip the non-stick so that my kids, pets and I don't breathe toxic fumes from overheated non-stick pans.

• For safer cooking, EWG suggests cast iron, stainless steel and oven-safe glass. Yes, there are many new products on the market, but most companies won't tell you exactly what they are. They don't have to release their safety data to the public.


• If you're in the m for a new cast iron pan, purchase it through Amazon and a portion of your purchase total will go to EWG!


• Cook safer with non-stick if you're stuck with it. Never heat an empty pan, especially at high heat, don't put non-stick baking pans in an oven hotter than 500 degrees F, and use your stove's exhaust fan.


• Learn more about cooking safely in our Healthy Home Tip: Skip the non-stick.

3. Store and reheat leftovers safely
Leftovers can extend the joy of a holiday -- by giving you a break from the kitchen! But be sure to avoid plastic when storing and (especially) when heating them. Here's why -- and how:

• The chemical additives in plastic can migrate into food and liquids. Ceramic or glass food containers (like Pyrex) are safer. Click here to get a 10-piece Pyrex set on Amazon (and a portion of your purchase will go towards helping EWG!).


• Don't microwave food or drinks in plastic containers, even if they claim to be "microwave safe." Heat can release chemicals into your food and drink. Microwaves heat unevenly, creating hot spots where the plastic is more likely to break down.


• If you do use a plastic container, handle it carefully. Use it for cool liquids only; wash plastics on the top rack of the dishwasher, farther from the heating element (or by hand!); Cover food in the microwave with a paper towel, not plastic wrap. Also, avoid single-use plastic like bottled water bottles. Reusing it isn't safe -- it can harbor bacteria, and tossing it fills up landfills and pollutes the environment.


• Read more about heating and storing food safely in EWG's Healthy Home Tip: Pick plastics carefully.

We wish you and yours a very happy holiday season. Happy Holidays!

P.S. Take a look at EWG's recommended reading list from the year - great gift ideas for others - and, of course, yourself.

By Swati Sharma, MS, EWG Research Assistant

"Natural" and homemade cosmetics and cleaning products aren't by definition safer than mainstream products. EWG takes a closer look at two common plant-based ingredients - tea tree and lavender oils - and finds that the science is still evolving and safety can't be assumed. First of a two-part blog on health concerns tied to natural ingredients.

You've no doubt seen buzzwords like these splashed across cosmetics and cleaning supply labels, but what exactly do they mean?

Truth is, customers tend to trust these front-of-the-package claims and often don't know that some household cleaners and common cosmetics contain chemicals tied to health problems such as asthma, allergies, hormone disruption and even cancer. Other consumers are more aware of the potential health effects of toxic ingredients and are actively looking for apparently safer products, while still others are taking it a step further and making their own cosmetics and cleaning supplies - with ingredients they buy individually - so they can be sure that what's in them is safe.

Examine Natural Products, Too
While these alternatives may seem better - and even offer a sense of control in the face of misleading advertising claims and confusing and toxic ingredients - it's still important to ask: Is a homemade or naturally-derived product necessarily safer? Maybe, maybe not, is the unsatisfying answer. Unfortunately, safety standards are nearly non-existent when it comes to ingredients in cleaning supplies and cosmetics, including natural ones.

Take tea tree and lavender oils, for example. They are two natural ingredients common in both cosmetics and cleaning agents. When I took a close look at the ones I have at home, nearly half contained one or the other. Both compounds have many uses and benefits, but researchers have raised concerns about potential health effects from excessive exposure to each. We'll explore tea tree oil here - stay tuned for our follow up blog post on lavender oil tomorrow.

Here's what we know:

Tea Tree Oil
Over the past several years, use of tea tree oil has been on the rise, spurred by scientific studies showing that the compound can kill microbes such as flu viruses, E. coli and antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, mold, mildew and other types of fungus.

However, just as for synthetic antibacterials, overuse of naturally derived antibacterial compounds can eventually render them ineffective. Numerous studies all over the world show that using antibacterial soap at home is no more effective at eliminating germs or preventing the spread of infection than ordinary soap, but it has a real potential downside: breeding resistant bacteria. Bacteria adapt readily to changing environments and can easily evolve into new strains that no longer respond to antibiotics or other antibacterials when they are overused.

So what about tea tree oil? A study published by Irish scientists in 2007 found that bacteria exposed to tea tree oil became resistant to it. Even more worrisome, they also became more resistant to conventional antibiotics. Researchers concluded that while tea tree oil is indeed an effective antibacterial agent, low-level, sustained application "may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in human pathogens" - a significant and growing medical concern.

Tea tree oil is often used in aromatherapy and massage therapy, where it is inhaled or applied directly to the skin. A recent study of air quality in spas in China found that tea tree oil generated the highest levels of an important class of indoor air contaminants (secondary organic aerosols) compared to other essential oils. Should a day at the spa automatically come with an extra dose of air pollution? And how might these air contaminants affect spa workers exposed daily?

Applying tea tree oil in massage oils and lotions raises concerns about skin allergies. Several studies show that it can cause skin irritation and allergies (often referred to as contact dermatitis or skin sensitization). In a 2008 report, the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) concluded that tea tree oil could induce both skin and eye allergies. Another study found 41 dermatitis cases out of 2,320 people tested and linked 41 percent of them to tea tree oil. The European Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association (COLIPA) recommends that products with this ingredient be formulated with extreme care:

"Tea Tree Oil should not be used in cosmetic products in a way that results in a concentration greater than 1% oil being applied to the body. When formulating Tea Tree Oil in a cosmetic product, companies should consider that the sensitization potential increases if certain constituents of the oil become oxidized. To reduce the formation of these oxidation products, manufacturers should consider the use of antioxidants and/or specific packaging to minimize exposure to light."

Based on this research, EWG does not suggest avoiding all products containing tea tree oil, but it is wise to respect this potent compound and use it with caution - and with all the information you can get.

Watch for the second part of EWG's two-part blog for information on lavender oil and take-home tips for both oils.

[A big thanks to flickr CC and jaybergesen for the beautiful lavender field pic.]

By Adrienne Barlia and Melissa Aronson
EWG's 2011 Teen Ambassadors

Hey teens! We know you probably wear make-up and use cosmetics everyday, but do you have any idea what's inside these products? Many personal care products may include dangerous chemicals that can build-up inside your body and pose risks to your health.

Here's a video about this issue just for you - made by teens, for other teens. Just take a look and think about evaluating your products for safety. Just think about it!

We're not asking you to throw out all of your make-up. But once you've watched this video, the shocking facts you'll learn may change your opinion on the safety of your cosmetics. The truth behind the beauty industry is definitely not pretty.

After you watch the video, check out EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database and get to work learning about your make-up and personal care products. Then spread the word!

By Renee Sharp, EWG California Director

As the world mourns the passing of iPhone creator Steve Jobs, San Francisco and Canada are blazing new paths to ensure that the public knows how to use cell phones safely.

On Oct. 4, responding to the World Health Organization's recent classification of cell phone radiation as a possible carcinogen, Canadian health officials updated their advice on safe cell phone use practices. In a significant step, Health Canada now advises parents to "reduce their children's RF exposure from cell phones," though it acknowledges that more research is needed to explore the consequences for human health of long-term exposure to cell phone radiation.

Canada joins France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Israel and Finland in officially recommending limiting cell phone radiation exposure to children. Health Canada's recommends that consumers limit the length of their cell phone calls, use "hands-free" devices and text instead of talking.

The U.S. government appears unwilling to take similar actions, but that has not stopped San Francisco from taking a step forward to protect public health. This month, the city will start requiring retailers to post an informational poster and distribute fact sheets to educate consumers about how they can take simple steps to limit their exposure to radiofrequency radiation from cell phones.

However, the fate of San Francisco ordinance depends on the outcome of a pending lawsuit filed by the wireless industry, which, apparently coincidentally, escalated its legal assault on the city the same day as the Health Canada announcement. In its revised complaint, CTIA, the wireless industry's main trade association, argues that its members' free speech rights are being violated because San Francisco is "compelling them to communicate messages and in a manner that is inaccurate and misleading, and that will harm consumers."

It's hard to imagine how a poster (above, right) whose tone is carefully measured -- reiterating unassailable facts scientific such as "cell phones emit radio-frequency energy" and "studies continue to assess potential health effects of mobile phone use"--could really be construed as inaccurate or misleading, much less harmful to consumers.

Even more amazing is CTIA's claim that San Francisco's ordinance conflicts with the federal government's effort to promote "the deployment of a robust, efficient, nationwide, wireless communications system."

Really? How is recommending that people text more or talk less going to really undermine that policy? After all, no one is asking consumers to get rid of their phones; rather they simply being advised to use them more safely.

If you want to talk about efficiency, one can't help but wonder whether the wireless industry should have spent more time making lower-RF cell phones instead of pouring all of this time, money and energy into fighting a simple campaign to educate the public about cell phone safety.

By Alex Formuzis with Sonya Lunder

In 2007, two members of Congress traveling on a tax-funded junket scolded a Chinese government official over tainted Chinese-made products, including lead-tainted children's toys, being exported to the United States. (If this sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, it's not.)

Two years later, then-Representative Mark Kirk (R-Il.) and Representative Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) were back, but this time on a different mission. They lobbied Chinese officials to look the other way and allow the sale of medical devices made by a U.S. company that contain a toxic plastics-softening chemical (a type of pthalate) the use of which is restricted in China (but not in the U.S.).

The legislative pitchmen were representing the interests of Illinois-based Baxter International - a medical equipment manufacturer that racked up more than $12 billion in revenues in 2010. The company, coincidentally, is one of Kirk's largest benefactors, contributing more than $98,000 to his campaign coffers over the last 10 years, according to the Reuters story. Note: We were not able to establish if Baxter or any of its employees contributed money to Mr. Larsen's campaigns, and a review of its website found no connection to his District.

Not exactly Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. In fact, the movie scene that comes to mind is from The Graduate.

Enter Wikileaks
Both incidents were reported in State Department cables obtained by Reuters from Wikileaks. The cables revealed that in 2009 Kirk, now a Republican senator from Illinois, and Rep. Larsen pressured Chinese officials to allow Baxter intravenous blood bags made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to be sold to Chinese hospitals.

Those products contain a toxic chemical called DEHP, a type of phthalate chemical commonly added to soften PVC plastic. European countries just announced a ban on DEHP, and China has apparently restricted these ingredients for 20 years. (Somewhat ironically, China recently also got out ahead of the U.S. on keeping BPA out of children's products.)

Meanwhile, back in American hospitals...
American medical patients, meanwhile, continue to be exposed to DEHP in medical tubing, despite evidence that it can result in harmful exposures. In 2003 the National Toxicology Program said it had "serious concerns" about the impact of DEHP on newborn boys receiving intensive medical treatments.

That's because DEHP blocks male sex hormones. Exposure during pregnancy and childhood can cause birth defects, undescended testes and other permanent changes to the male reproductive system. A series of studies performed at Massachusetts General Hospital find that adult men with higher phthalate exposures have more sperm damage and hormonal changes that would impair their fertility.

Who knew that wikileaks would be so awkward for the Congressmen who purport to be purveyors of public health? Apparently consumer products containing toxic chemicals sit just fine with these two men -- as long they're turning profits for a U.S. company and sold in China.

Have you ever counted how many cosmetics or personal care products you use in a day? Chances are it's nearly 10.

And chances are good that they include shampoo, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, hair conditioner, lip balm, sunscreen, body lotion, shaving products if you're a man, and cosmetics if you are a woman.

And what about your children? On any given day you might rub, spray, or pour some combination of sunscreen, diaper cream, shampoo, lotion, and maybe even insect repellent on their skin.

Most people use these products without a second thought, and believe that the government must certainly be policing the safety of the mixtures in these myriad containers. But they're wrong.

The government does not require health studies or pre-market testing for these products before they are sold. And as people apply an average of 126 unique ingredients on their skin daily, these chemicals, whether they seep through the skin, rinse down the drain, or flush down the toilet in human excretions, are causing concerns for human health, and for the impacts they may have to wildlife, rivers and streams.

So go ahead, take 2 minutes and 29 seconds to get the story behind cosmetics. Then take the important step to find out what's lurking in YOUR cosmetics, and find safer options in EWG's Cosmetics Database - it's easy to search.

PS - Grab the embed code and post it on your site.

When I shop for furniture, I usually think of what NOT to get - no sprayed-on stain protection, no flame retardants, no unsustainable wood, and the list goes on.

So it's a relief to find out that there is at least one furniture maker who frees you from having to ask all those questions or fret over all those worries, because they're thinking about your health and the environment for you.

Introducing the Q Collection, a furniture line out of New York City that EWG President Ken Cook likes to joke he'd be happy to eat with a little mango salsa.

The Q Collection has a mission
This company's mission has to do with your home and the environment (how refreshing): Be people safe and planet safe. How? By designing and manufacturing long-lasting furniture that doesn't rely on harmful materials typically used in furniture and fabrics. That means making eco-healthy choices like:

• No formaldehyde
  Formaldehyde is used in most furniture adhesives, but the Q Collection uses only water-based adhesives.
• No polyurethane, no dacron
  Polyurethane, a known carcinogen, is used as a topcoat and in the manufacturing of foam and dacron (part of foam padding) contains toluene. This company uses only water-based stains, topcoats and natural latex foam rubber.
• No brominated flame retardants
  Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are banned in Europe but are still being used extensively in US upholstery manufacturing.
• No heavy metals
  Leather tanning is the most harmful of all fabric production processes because it relies on harmful heavy metals like chromium 6.
• No toxic stain resistant chemicals
  Fabrics often contain dioxin (typically as a byproduct of the dyeing and finishing processes), a powerful carcinogen that is also known to damage the human immune system. Dioxins are also on the "dirty dozen" list of persistent environmental pollutants (POPs).
• Sustainably harvested wood, 100% certified
  The source of most wood used to make furniture today is unknown. Unfortunately, it can come from some of the world's most threatened ecosystems, such as old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest or the Amazon rain forest. The U.S. is by far the largest importer of virgin timber from the Amazon.
• Organic or European ecological cotton
  Cotton is the world's most polluting crop because of enormous levels of pesticides and herbicides used in growing it.
• Non-toxic, low-impact fabric dyes
  Fabric dyes often contain toxic chemicals that are suspected to cause cancer, reproductive or developmental damage.

Where to get Q Collection furniture
The Q Collection Junior (see nursery photo, right) is available online and in these stores in the US, Canada, Australia and the Cayman Islands. The studio line (all ages!) is available online or in their NYC Flagship store.

Beyond the sheer joy of knowing that it really is possible to find safe furniture for you and your children, there's a larger, important message here: making safe, environmentally friendly furniture is possible, and it doesn't have to break the bank. Thank you, Jesse Johnson & Anthony Cochran, for showing the way with the Q Collection.

[Gorgeous photo is of the Q Collection Junior line.]