Credit: Capital B/Candace Y.A. Montague
Are your braids bad for your health?
The big idea: Consumer Reports researchers have discovered potentially harmful chemicals in synthetic braiding hair commonly used by Black people, including carcinogens, volatile organic compounds like acetone, and trace amounts of lead, Candace Y.A. Montague writes for Capital B. These findings explain the skin irritations and itchy scalps many users experience and highlight significant health concerns from prolonged exposure to these undetectable toxins in hair products marketed primarily to Black consumers.Meeting the moment: This research exposes a critical environmental justice issue in the beauty industry where products marketed to Black consumers contain more toxic chemicals than those targeting white consumers. The problem is compounded by layered chemical exposure from multiple hair and beauty products used simultaneously, creating a cumulative toxic burden. Scientists emphasize that these aren't isolated exposures but part of a pattern of chemical accumulation that poses greater health risks.The stakes: With Black women representing 14% of the beauty industry market share and spending $473 million annually on hair care products alone (six times more than other ethnic groups), the economic and health implications are substantial. The research found that cheaper, low-quality hair products containing harmful substances are disproportionately marketed to and purchased within Black communities. While the lead levels detected were low, experts stress there is no safe level of lead exposure, and long-term exposure can lead to serious health consequences including brain and nerve damage, reproductive issues in adults, and developmental problems in children.
From the source: “There are a lot of products we’re using every day that may contain harmful chemicals,” Elissia Franklin, an analytical chemist and research scientist at the Silent Spring Institute in Massachusetts, told Capital B. “And so it’s about being more aware and intentional about what we’re putting on our bodies and exposing ourselves to.”
Credit: Native News Online/Sitkatribe.org
Alaska Native tribe fights claims that its food assistance program is wasteful spending
The big idea: The Sitka Tribe of Alaska is defending its federally funded traditional food program against claims of wasteful spending as Indian Country faces cuts from the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. The $2.4 million USDA grant program provides locally-harvested seafood to tribal citizens while also supporting small-scale fishermen in the community, addressing both food security and economic stability in the region, Kaili Berg writes for Native News Online.The stakes: Indigenous communities across the United States face significant food insecurity challenges, with 25% of Native American households experiencing food insecurity compared to the 10.5% national average. In Sitka specifically, food prices are 38% higher than the national average due to geographic isolation and transportation costs, while Alaska's seafood industry, valued at $5.7 billion, faces economic challenges that threaten small-scale fishing operations. The program has already distributed thousands of pounds of locally sourced seafood including king salmon, coho salmon, halibut, rockfish, black cod, and Dungeness crab to over 1,200 tribal households, while supporting 14 local fishermen, including seven tribal citizens, according to Native News Online.The fine print: Contrary to recent mischaracterizations claiming the tribe was selling expensive seafood and misappropriating funds, the Sitka Tribe has spent $256,444.84 of the grant funds on locally harvested seafood at market prices. Diistribution is free to tribal citizens. The program specifically addresses barriers to accessing traditional foods, including financial constraints, lack of boat access, and limited fishing knowledge, while addressing the vulnerability created by Alaska's dependence on imported food (about 95% ofthe state’s food is imported). Tribal officials emphasize that the program operates with full transparency and in compliance with grant guidelines.From the source: “They misstated, represented that we were selling red king crab and misappropriating funding, selling it to our tribal citizens and pocketing the money. That’s simply not true,” Jessica Perkins, chief legal officer for the tribe, told Native News Online.
Credit: Epicenter NYC/Christian Maciel
Some Bronx families to get baby food in new settlement
The big idea: Thanks to a recent settlement with two companies accused of price gouging during the 2022 baby formula shortage, Bronx families struggling to afford baby food will receive significant help. The agreement requires Marine Park Distribution Inc. and Formula Depot Inc. to provide $675,000 worth of baby formula to New York families, with more than $344,000 worth specifically designated for child caregivers in the Bronx. This could be a critical resource for a borough that has the highest child poverty and food insecurity rates in New York, where nearly one in three children struggle to get enough to eat, Ambar Castillo writes for Epicenter NYC. The fine print: The distribution is being handled by Roads to Success, a nonprofit organization that will distribute 7,520 cans of powdered formula and 3,510 bottles of liquid formula in the Bronx. The stakes: This settlement highlights broader issues plaguing infant nutrition in the United States, including a vulnerable supply chain dominated by just four companies controlling about 90% of the formula market, according to Epicenter NYC. The price gouging was significant. Formula Depot customers saw prices for one product increase from $190 to $245 in just a matter of weeks. Beyond price issues, studies show that 60% of baby foods in U.S. supermarkets don't meet World Health Organization nutrition recommendations, with many products containing excessive sugar, salt, and sweeteners that can establish unhealthy eating habits. The crisis has led some parents to lose trust in commercial baby food, with some choosing to make their own, though not all families have the resources to do so.What you can do: If you're a Bronx resident in need of baby formula, you can visit the Boston Secor Community Center during distribution hours or contact Roads to Success directly. For those concerned about ongoing price gouging in baby formula or other essential products, the Attorney General's office encourages reporting any concerns by filing a complaint online or calling 800-771-7755. Advocates also say you should stay informed about nutrition guidelines for infants, support policies that protect consumers against price gouging.
Meet the Game Changers
Highlighting the innovators transforminghealth outcomes in our communities
The story: The Sankofa Elders Project aims to address the equity issues faced by older Black adults in Los Angeles County. The group’s work includes developing and disseminating the Black Eldering Bill of Rights, principles to guide future advocacy for Black elders and their caregivers, writes Black Voice News.At the center: “The idea is that these pillars, this Black Eldering Bill of Rights, is used, one, as a platform for future advocacy around issues impacting not just older adults themselves, but really intergenerationally and those who care for them and caregivers,” Carlene Davis, founder of Sistahs Aging with Grace & Elegance and the Sankofa Elders Project, told BVN.Read more at BVN.
Credit: Carlene Davis
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