Last Updated on May 17, 2021 by Colleen
Chlorpyrifos is one of the most toxic agricultural chemicals. But the last administration stopped a move to ban its use. Now a U.S. court steps in to give the EPA a directive, and a very short timeframe to act.
How Toxic is Chlorpyrifos and Who is at Risk?
Dow Chemical patented chlorpyrifos as a pesticide in 1966. It is an organophosphate chemical. Farmers, groundskeepers, and exterminators have used it for 65 years. (To go straight to what you can do to protect yourself and influence the EPA’s decision, scroll down to “How Can You Protect Your Loved Ones from Toxic Chemicals?”)
It kills insects by inhibiting the essential enzyme activity that enables the messages that travel through nerve cells. Chlorpyrifos drifts through the air and poisons the lungs of people exposed to it. It also spreads its poison to people by clinging to fruits and vegetables and grass.
Tragically, it has proven to cause developmental damage even with a small exposure in fetuses and small children. Acute exposure can cause neuromuscular symptoms, seizures, lung failure, paralysis, and death. It is also toxic to bees and crustaceans.
How Do You Get Exposed to Chlorpyrifos?
Despite this toxicity, farmers, exterminators, and grounds keepers in the U.S. have used chlorpyrifos to control pests on
- corn
- soybeans
- fruit and nut trees
- Brussel sprouts
- cranberries
- broccoli and cauliflower
- golf courses
- turf
- termite control
- roach and ant traps
What Other Countries Have Banned It?
Many countries banned this toxin. And yet, the U.S. has continued using it to the present day. Here is the timeline.
- Singapore in 2009
- South Africa in 2010
- Denmark 2012
- European Union 2020
Why Hasn’t the U.S. Banned Chlorpyrifos?
Dow Chemical has lobbied hard for many years to keep chlorpyrifos on the market in the United States. The company asserts it is safe for use. And yet, the EPA has not been able to find a safe threshold of exposure. In fact, Dow paid a $2 million fine to the State of New York for claiming its product was safe. Here’s a quick timeline.
- 1989 OSHA set a maximum exposure level but it was later reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals.
- 2000 The industry reached an agreement with the EPA to voluntarily restrict the use of chlorpyrifos near children.
- 2003 Dow Chemical paid a fine to NY State for claiming the chemical was safe.
- 2007 The Pesticide Action Network and Natural Resource Defense Council appealed to the EPA to ban chlorpyrifos.
- 2015 A U.S. Court of Appeals told the EPA to ban chlorpyrifo, stating the EPA had failed to show the chemical met legal safety requirements.
- 2016 The EPA decided to ban the chemical despite Dow Chemical’s persistent claims that it is safe and critical to growers.
- 2017 The Trump Administration’s Sec. of Agriculture Scott Pruit revoked the EPA ban. Pruitt claimed he had not met with Dow Chemical executives prior to revoking the ban. But it was later revealed he had met with them dozens of times and specifically told them he would revoke the ban.
- 2017 California adds chlorpyrifos to its Prop 65 list of toxic chemicals and set minimum exposure levels at .025PPB. The American Academy of Pediatrics protests the Administrations lack of movement on the ban, stating the chemical’s well-established danger to children.
- 2018 The U.S. Court of Appeals told the EPA to ban chlorpyrifos within 60 days but the ruling was appealed by the Trump Administration.
- 2020 California banned chlorpyrifos. Thailand bans the use of chlorpyrifos and paraquat and moves to ban imported foods grown by farmers using these chemcals. The US and Brazil appeal to the WTA to force Thailand to reverse its ban. it completely within 60 days.
Who’s to Blame for the Poisoning of America?
The history of chlorpyrifos is a lesson in the danger to people and our planet of taking on one toxic chemical at a time. Dow Chemical introduced chlorpyrifos to the market over 55 years ago. It’s been poisoning fetuses, children, and adults ever since. As far back as 1989 the U.S. government showed public concern over the chemical as seen in the OSHA exposure limits. And twenty years ago the industry publicly admitted it was toxic to children by agreeing to usage restrictions.
Yet, lawsuit after lawsuit, research evidence be damned, court orders disregarded, the EPA failed to protect the people and country it is chartered to protect. And, yes, the delay of the ban over the last five years is due to direct and malicious actions of the Trump Administration. But a handful of other Administrations — Republican and Democrat — could have banned this poison years ago and did not.
What Can We Learn about Glyphosate from the Chlorpyrifos Story?
The lesson is clear. We cannot achieve a cleaner world fighting one chemical at a time. As much as we know some chemicals like glyphosate and chlorpyrifos are perhaps more toxic or pervasive than some others, we cannot cherry pick the handful of worst offenders and try to pick them off one by one. There simply isn’t enough time (unless you think a standard of 50 or more years from introduction to ban to be your measure of success). We must get to the core of the problem.
- Companies must prove chemicals are safe before they are allowed to introduce them on the market.
- Consumers should have a right to know if there is toxic residue on their food.
- Because of their position between farms and consumers, brands, suppliers, and distributors should be the intermediary that requires testing from the farms. They also should test their final product for toxic residue and provide complete transparency to consumers. Finally, that transparency to consumers has to be provided in an actionable format — at a time when they are making purchasing or eating decisions. Consumers should not have to contact a customer service person to request the information.
How Can You Protect Your Loved Ones from Toxic Chemicals?
- Buy organic whenever possible but especially produce that you eat that cannot be peeled.
- Soak your produce in a solution of water with a bit of apple cider vinegar or baking soda or both.
- Buy from companies you trust. Avoid cheap food. Cheap can mean the farmer used a lot of chemicals to increase their yield so they can keep prices low.
- Ask brands you love to test their food and make the results publicly available.
- Contact the EPA and ask them to ban chlorpyrifos and to require chemical companies to prove their products are safe before they can be used. Consider tweeting them at https://twitter.com/epa.
Does ZEGO Test for Chlorpyrifos?
Yes! We do and have since we introduced our purity testing back in 2018. You can see our results on our pesticide panels for each product on our Food Safety tab on our website, or by scanning the QR code on any of our packages. This is exactly the type of testing and transparency all brands should commit to. Why? Because if consumers aren’t informed about the prevalence of toxic residue in our agriculture system and on their food, they won’t have the information and inspiration to demand better. And, better is what we have to strive for every day.
Some of the information in this blog came from Wikipedia, which has extensive information on the history and toxicity of this chemical.
Colleen Kavanagh is the founder and CEO of ZEGO, a company that seeks to inspire changes in the food system so it better nourishes all people and our planet. She spent 20 years working to better nourish low-income children through improved public policies and programs, working for Congressman George Miller in Washington, DC and various anti-hunger nonprofits. She founded the nonprofit www.abettercourse.org. In 2013, she decided the only way to better nourish the most vulnerable is to leverage consumer demand through the marketplace to regenerating the food system and protect the most vulnerable. And that, lead to her starting ZEGO.
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Organic Double Protein Oats 1 bag$8.99 -
Organic Plant Based Protein Powder (15oz bag)$29.99 — or subscribe to save 10%
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Organic Gluten-Free Muesli: Nut Free Cinnamon Twist (13oz)$9.99 — or subscribe to save 10%
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Organic Double Protein Oats 5 bag case$44.95 — or subscribe to save 5%
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Organic Gluten Free Muesli: Apple Cranberry (13oz)$9.99 — or subscribe to save 10%
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Organic Oatmeal Superfood Blueberry Lemon Poppy 1 Bag$8.99
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Organic Plant Protein (5 bags, 15 oz each)$149.95 — or subscribe to save 5%
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Organic Oatmeal Superfood Cinnamon Spice 1 Bag$8.99
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Regenerative Organic Oats 1 bag$8.99
๐พ A milestone for ZEGO!
Our first regenerative organic oat harvest is underway in Havre, Montana. ๐ฑ
After years of drought and grasshopper damage, this crop is looking especially promising. As part of our commitment to gluten-free oats, we walked the fields to verify they were free of gluten-containing grains and were encouraged by how clean they looked. As with any organic farm, there are some weeds, including bindweed, alfalfa, and amaranth, but they can be easily cleaned out during processing.
Grateful for partners like Jody Manuel of Prairie Ranch Farm and Paul Lightfoot of Patagonia Provisions as we work together to strengthen a more transparent and resilient food system. ๐
#RegenerativeAgriculture #OrganicOats #Montana #ZEGOFoods
Aug 26
Newtopia Now 2026 @newtopianow was a good one! ๐ฑ
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the ZEGO Foods booth and spent some time with us alongside GoodNow! We loved meeting so many people, sharing our products, and being part of such a great community.
A special thank you to @nanajoesgranola, @celiacandthebeast, and @collegeceliackc for connecting with us and helping make the event even more memorable. ๐
Until the next one! ๐ฑ
#ZegoFoods #NewtopiaNow #GoodNow #PlantBased #PeaceOfMind
Aug 20
Whatโs driving the organic produce boom? ๐ฑ
A recent Naturalist Podcast conversation with Nancy Coulter Parker and Brenna Davis, CEO of Organically Grown Company, explored themes we care deeply about: transparency, consumer trust, supporting farmers, and understanding where food comes from.
As consumers ask more questions, transparency is becoming essential. Weโre proud to be part of the movement toward a more trustworthy food system. ๐พ
๐ Link in bio to read and watch.
#ZEGOFoods #OrganicFood #FoodTransparency #OrganicProduce #FutureOfFood
Aug 17
Did you know oats go through a โmilk stageโ? ๐พ
Before an oat becomes the grain we know, it passes through a stage where a milky substance forms inside the hull after pollination. Next comes the dough stage, before the oat fully matures.
Right now, the crop needs the right balance of heat and moisture to thrive. ๐ฑ
Itโs a reminder that thereโs a lot happening behind every oat and that understanding how food is grown helps us all make more informed choices.
#ZEGOFoods #Oats #KnowYourFood #FoodTransparency #oatfarming
Aug 14
Whatโs really in your food? ๐
At ZEGO, we believe everyone has a right to know whatโs in their food and where it comes from. ๐ฑ
Hear our founder @colleen_kavanagh_z share how ZEGO Foods is raising the bar for food transparency and consumer trust. ๐๏ธ On About Road to Retail @road2retail , she discusses what it takes to build a brand that stands out through transparency, accountability, and a commitment to helping consumers know what`s in their food.
๐ Read the blog and ๐๏ธ watch the podcast through the link in bio.
#ZEGOFoods #FoodTransparency #FoodSafety #PurityVerified #KnowYourFood
Aug 13
Join the movement toward a more transparent food future. ๐ฑ
Weโre excited to be at @newtopianow with GoodNow Foods. Stop by Booth #1812 to meet the ZEGO team and discover how transparency, traceability, and Purity Verified standards are helping build greater trust in food.
๐ Booth #1812 | August 18โ20 | Denver, CO
๐ We canโt wait to connect with the people helping shape whatโs next in conscious food.
#NewtopiaNow #PurityVerified #ZEGOFoods
Aug 7
๐พ ๐ข๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐
While other grains bloom out in the open, oat flowers stay hidden inside the hull. That tiny detail is one reason oat breeding takes so much care, precision, and patience.
Pretty cool for a breakfast staple. ๐
#ZEGOFoods #OatFacts #DidYouKnow #KnowYourFood #FoodScience
Aug 5
๐ ๐๐ถ๐ด ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ญ๐๐๐ข ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐!
Weโre honored to be featured in @eatingwell โs โ7 Best Cereals to Reduce Heart Disease Risk.โ Thank you to registered dietitian @sheridietitian for including ZEGO and sharing how fiber-rich whole grains can support heart health.
Weโre proud to be part of the conversation around nutritious, transparent food choices that help people feel confident about whatโs on their plate.
Read the full story: Link in Bio ๐
#EatingWell #HeartHealth #HealthyBreakfast #WholeGrains #Zegofoods
Aug 4
๐ฑ Good things are growing.
Our oat fields have safely cleared the critical flowering stage, bringing us one step closer to harvest and one step closer to the nutritious foods you know and love. ๐พ
Moments like these remind us that great food starts long before it reaches your table. It starts with healthy soil, dedicated farmers, and a commitment to growing food the right way.
Here`s to strong crops and a promising harvest ahead. ๐
#FarmToTable #Oats #RegenerativeAgriculture #HealthySoil #SustainableFarming #HarvestSeason #FieldUpdate #GrowWithNature #CleanFood #ZEGO
Aug 2
Throwback to 2022, when ZEGO Founder & CEO @colleen_kavanagh_z and @cybelepascal were already friendsโlong before Cybele joined ZEGO as CCO. A little foreshadowing of what was ahead. โค๏ธ
Jul 31
๐ง Waffles made with muesli? Absolutely.
ZEGO Organic Muesli isnโt just for the cereal bowlโit also makes a delicious base for homemade gluten-free, nut-free waffles.
Made with organic Purity Protocol oats, seeds, and naturally sweet dates, our muesli adds flavor, texture, and a little crunch without added sugar. And because itโs made in our top-14 allergen-free facility, itโs an easy way to bring more variety to an allergy-friendly breakfast routine.
A delicious new way to use muesli beyond the cereal bowl. ๐
Find the recipe and more ways to use ZEGO Muesli at https://zegofoods.com/gluten-free-vegan-pancakes-waffles-muffins/
#zegofoods #glutenfreewaffles #nutfreebreakfast #organicmuesli #allergyfriendly
Jul 24
๐ฅ Overnight oats, made even easier.
ZEGO Superfood Oatmeal Blends combine our organic Purity Protocol gluten-free oats with seeds, fruit, spices, and other flavorful ingredientsโso most of the work is already done for you.
Choose Cinnamon & Spice for a warm, cozy bowl or Blueberry Lemon Poppy for something bright and fruity.
To make:
1. Combine โ
cup ZEGO Superfood Oatmeal with 1ยฝ cups milk of choice and โ
teaspoon salt.
2. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
3. Stir in the morning and add your favorite toppings.
An easy breakfast, ready when you are. Which blend are you making first? ๐ฅฃโจ
#zegofoods #overnightoats #glutenfreeoats #healthybreakfast
Jul 22
๐ซ A homemade twist on the old-fashioned chocolate peanut butter cupโmade with your favorite seed or nut butter.
These chocolate-dipped protein bites have a rich, creamy center, a little crunch, and 4g of protein per bite. Choose sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version, or use your favorite nut butter that works for your household, for a homemade take on the classic chocolate peanut butter cup.
Ingredients:
โข โ
cup pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or your favorite nuts
โข โ
cup seed or nut butter
โข 2 tbsp vanilla
โข 2 tbsp maple syrup
โข 2 tbsp ZEGO Pure Protein
โข 2 tsp flaky salt
โข 2 tbsp mini chocolate chips, optional
โข Melted chocolate for dipping
โข Cacao nibs or flaky salt for topping, optional
Directions:
โ Mix the seed or nut butter, vanilla, and maple syrup in a large bowl.
โ Add ZEGO Pure Protein, seeds or nuts, salt, and chocolate chips. Mix well.
โ Chill for 30 minutes.
โ Roll into 16 bites and dip in melted chocolate.
โ Sprinkle with cacao nibs or flaky salt, then refrigerate until set.
Store in the refrigerator for an easy grab-and-go treat.
Choose the ingredients that work for your dietary needs, and enjoy every chocolate-covered bite. ๐ป
Jul 17
Good taste runs in the family. Archerโs dad Darin makes Gheelish, one of our favorite gluten-free snack brandsโand Archer starts his day with ZEGO. ๐๐ฅฃ
Jul 15
Goodness you can hold in your hands. ๐
Every bag of ZEGO Muesli is thoughtfully crafted with YOU in mindโfrom the simple, organic ingredients to our commitment to exceptional food safety and transparency.
Enjoy it straight from the bag, pack it for the trail, pour it into a bowl with your favorite milk, layer it with yogurt and fruit, or sprinkle it over a smoothie bowl for a deliciously satisfying crunch.
However you eat it, ZEGO Muesli makes wholesome nourishment easy to take anywhere.
And because every ZEGO product is Purity Verifiedยฎ, you can feel confident about what youโre bringing to the table.
Discover our Muesli flavors and learn more about our food-safety standards at the ๐ฃ link in bio.
#ZEGOFoods #Muesli #AllergyFriendly #GlutenFree #PurityVerified
Jul 13
๐๐ฅฃ The perfect summer snack: cool, crunchy, and easy to customize.
ZEGOโs organic nut-free muesli makes a delicious parfait for breakfast, snack time, or a light summer treat. Layer it with yogurt, fresh fruit, and your favorite toppingsโor set up a parfait bar and let everyone build their own.
Tip: Toast the muesli first for extra crunch!
A few combinations we love:
๐ซ Blackberry yogurt + Cinnamon Twist Muesli + fresh berries
๐ Vanilla yogurt + fresh peaches + Cinnamon Twist Muesli
๐ Cinnamon-spiced yogurt + Apple Cranberry Muesli + diced apples + honey
๐ฅฅ Coconut yogurt + Cinnamon Twist Muesli + fresh mango + agave
What summer flavor combination would you create? ๐
#SummerSnacks #ParfaitIdeas #OrganicMuesli #NutFree #ZEGOFoods
Jul 10
B-roll from #FancyFood. ๐ฌ
@specialtyfoodassociation #wefancy
Jul 9
๐ช Want an easier way to get more protein at breakfast?
Many nutrition experts recommend aiming for 30โ50g of protein in your first meal to help support stable energy, muscle health, and balanced blood sugar throughout the day.
One simple way to get there? Start with a better oat.
๐พ ZEGO Organic Double Protein Oats naturally contain 2x the protein of typical rolled oats, plus 20โ40% more fiber, making them a satisfying foundation for overnight oats, oatmeal, smoothies, and baking.
Why we love them:
๐ช Naturally double the protein
๐ฑ USDA Organic & regeneratively grown in the western U.S.
๐พ More fiber for lasting energy
โจ Purity Verifiedยฎ for pesticides, heavy metals, gluten, and the top allergens
Making overnight oats?
Because our oats are raw, we recommend one of these simple prep methods:
โ๏ธ Pour boiling water over the oats and let sit for 15 minutes before refrigerating.
โ๏ธ Or soak them with yogurt.
โ๏ธ Or add โ
teaspoon sea salt to your soaking liquid.
(This simple step keeps the oats tasting delicious by preventing naturally occurring enzymes from developing a sharp flavor.)
Top with fresh fruit, nuts or seeds, cinnamon, chia, or your favorite yogurt for an easy, protein-packed breakfast.
๐ฌ Whatโs your favorite overnight oats combination?
#ProteinBreakfast #OvernightOats #OrganicOats #zegofoods #PurityVerified
Jul 6
๐บ๐ธโ๏ธ Itโs going to be a HOT Fourth of July weekend…
Skip the sugar bomb and cool down with a popsicle that actually fuels you. ๐๐ฅ
Made with real strawberries, our Organic Double Protein Oats, and Pure Plant Protein Protein Powder, these refreshing pops deliver plant-based protein, complex carbs, and real ingredients you can feel good about.
โค๏ธ Allergy-friendly
๐พ Certified gluten-free
โจ Purity Verifiedยฎ ingredients
Ingredients
๐ฅฃ 1 cup ZEGO Organic Double Protein Oatmeal
๐ฑ 4 tbsp ZEGO Pure Plant Protein Powder
๐ง 1 cup water
๐ 1 cup diced strawberries, plus extra sliced strawberries
๐ 2 tbsp lemon juice
๐ฏ 4โ5 tbsp honey or agave (or to taste)
๐ผ 1 tsp vanilla extract
๐ง Pinch of sea salt
Directions
1๏ธโฃ Blend the water, oats, lemon juice, and sea salt for about 90 seconds.
2๏ธโฃ Add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
3๏ธโฃ Place sliced strawberries into your popsicle molds.
4๏ธโฃ Pour in the mixture and freeze overnight (or at least 4โ6 hours).
5๏ธโฃ Enjoy!
Perfect after the pool. ๐๏ธ
Perfect after a workout. ๐ช
Perfect while watching the fireworks. ๐
Save this recipe for the holiday weekend! ๐บ๐ธ๐
#FourthOfJuly #HealthySummer #Popsicles #PlantBased #GlutenFree
Jul 3
Day 2 at Fancy Food. Come by booth #1150, grab some overnight oats and samples, and say hello!
#fancyfood #fancyfoodshow #getfancy
@specialtyfoodassociation
Jun 29
