References: Chapter 5 · What Soaked In on the Way Home
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USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic Program regulations, 7 CFR Part 205, Subpart C (Organic Production and Handling Requirements).
Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), 7 U.S.C. ch. 94 §6501 et seq.
Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR 205.105(g) and 7 CFR 205.203(e)(2): sewage sludge prohibited.
Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR 205.203 (soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standard).
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USDA Economic Research Service. Chart: gap between select organic and conventional produce prices has narrowed in recent years (Feb 2025 Organic Situation Report).
USDA Economic Research Service. 'Investigating Retail Price Premiums for Organic Foods.' Amber Waves (May 2016) — milk and eggs among highest-premium organic categories; egg premiums fluctuate widely.
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Organic Dairy Retail Overview / Dairy Market News (organic vs. conventional half-gallon retail prices, early 2026).
Hayes TB, et al. PNAS 99(8):5476-5480 (2002) — effects at 0.1 ppb.
Hayes TB, et al. PNAS 107(10):4612-4617 (2010) — 2.5 ppb chronic exposure.
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Secondary summaries of the FDA announcement of 2024-02-28 on PFAS grease-proofing agents in paper and paperboard food packaging; Food Packaging Forum coverage of migration studies. PRIMARY NOT OPENED - LOCATOR UNVERIFIED.
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U.S. FDA. Phthalates in cosmetics and food-contact/medical applications (constituent updates and guidance).
Directive 2005/84/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 76/769/EEC (phthalates in toys and childcare articles).
ECHA. Annex XVII to REACH - Conditions of Restriction, entry 51 (phthalates).
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USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. National Organic Standards Board.
National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), Oregon State University / EPA: Spinosad General Fact Sheet.
Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR 205.105(e) (excluded methods prohibited) and 7 CFR 205.2 (definition of 'excluded methods').
USDA AMS: 'Organic 101: Can GMOs Be Used in Organic Products?'
USDA-AMS National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, 7 CFR 205.601-205.602.
USDA NOP, 'Allowed and Prohibited Substances' overview.
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Hayes TB, et al. PNAS 107(10):4612-4617 (2010) — chromosomal males developed functional ovaries and produced eggs.
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Felton R. Consumer Reports finds widespread presence of plastics in food. Reuters, January 4, 2024.
Consumer Reports (2024). 'The Plastic Chemicals Hiding in Your Food' (tested 85 foods; phthalates near-ubiquitous, no clear packaging/food-type pattern).
CBS News, 'BPA, phthalates widespread in supermarket foods, regardless of packaging, Consumer Reports says' (2024).
Consumer Reports (2024). 'The Plastic Chemicals Hiding in Your Food' — Annie's Organic Cheesy Ravioli highest at ~53,579 ng phthalates/serving.
Consumer Reports advocacy release: 'CR calls on General Mills to reduce concerning levels of plastic chemicals in Annie's Organic Cheesy Ravioli' (2024).
CORRECTION 2026-09-17: double_sourced was Y, but both listed sources are Consumer Reports reporting one laboratory run, so the flag was wrong. The figure is widely repeated - CBS News, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Newsweek all carry 53,579 ng and the highest-of-85 ranking - which corroborates the reporting and not the measurement. No independent laboratory has replicated it.
Consumer Reports paper-towel tests, 2024, via syndicated coverage (ABC7 San Francisco; KY3; NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth; News4Jax). CR report itself not opened.
Consumer Reports (advocacy). CR calls on General Mills to reduce concerning levels of plastic chemicals in Annie's Organic Cheesy Ravioli (2024).
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