Ingesting Cotton

Did you know that cotton, the most popular of fabrics, is also ingested in the form of food? Not in the wildest of our dreams would we think that we are eating cotton. We use 40% of the plant (the boll) for fabric use, while the rest of the 60% goes into making cottonseed oil and some other by-products. Cottonseed oil is used in processed foods such as salad dressings, and snacks in the US. The consumption of the oil annually is around half a million tons. As per conservative estimates, three million tons of raw cottonseed is used in the dairy industry as feed for cattle that produce milk products and beef. Ultimately, when we consume these products cotton enters our system.

Though on the face of it, it all appears harmless. But, the underlying fact is that the cotton plant is most intensively sprayed with insecticides worldwide. Of the entire insecticide usage globally, over 10% is used on the cotton plant alone, whereas the US accounts for 25% of its total insecticide usage on the cotton crop. What requires attention is that insecticides and pesticides that are unfit for spray on food crops are used on cotton. Consumers are normally led to believe that most pesticides break down soon, and are removed during processing, which is not the case. Research has shown that pesticides are not removed completely, as toxic defoliant tribufos (DEF) remains on the cottonseed and the by-products. Moreover, cottonseed oil is hardly tested for the presence of the toxic residues. Cotton is being increasingly genetically engineered. Unlike other food products, no labeling is required on cotton food items to show that these are genetically engineered products. 

The only way out to this situation presently is to use certified organic cotton products – both consumable and non-consumable. It is not only safe for your children and family, but also ensures that the soil and water remain free from the effects of harmful pesticides.

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