EWG’s Food Scores Database

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a new database available: Food Scores.

You can search for items or ingredients and see how EWG rates the item in terms of nutrition, ingredient concern (ex. pesticide issues), and processing (more processing can lead to more artificial ingredients with negative side effects).

I searched for common items I buy at the grocery store, and the information I gathered was useful to me. It helped reassure me actually that the items I think are safer really are safer than some of the alternatives (ex. organic baby food). It also helps me see the diversity of scores even within the same brand, like Kashi, which, while having more organic ingredients than many other brands, still has a range of scores and isn’t entirely “pure.”

I may not be able to find foods that are magically perfect for me and my family, but this is a good tool for helping me find better choices. If you play around with it, I’d love to hear what you like or dislike about it.