If you read the labels of certain products you may have noticed that some of them say “BPA free”. These are what you should be looking for, as many products that use plastic in their packing (such was water or soda bottles) contain Bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA. It is becoming increasingly evident that BPA is not good for us, and several countries have reacted by banning it. However the US has only banned it in baby bottles, so it is something that you still need to be watchful for.

The world really is a weird place. The things that we consider to be valuable are usually more expensive than very similar products simply because of the logo that they bear. This is true not only for clothing and electronic products, but also for the very food that we consume. The irony of the fascination with labels and brands is that the core elements that go into making some of our most exclusive and expensive materials can be picked up for next to nothing in the places from which they originate. In those places, the things we consider to be luxuries are often nothing more than basic commodities to be traded for other basic materials. Here is a look at three of the most obvious examples.

Environmental Health and Safety is used as the name of a unit in companies and government agencies. From an environmental point of view, it includes creating a systematic and organized approach to complying with environmental policy, managing waste, or diminishing the company’s carbon footprint. Successful Environmental Health and Safety programs also include air quality, water quality, and other aspects of workplace and community safety that have an effect on the well-being and health of workers.

On January 24^th 2013, BBC news announced FSA’s (Food Standard Agency) admittance that horsemeat exported to France for food had tested positive of a drug (Phenylbutazone or bute) considered harmful to humans. Horsemeat contaminated by this drug is said to be banned from consumption within the EU. News of contamination followed traces of horse and pig DNA found in some burgers which were sold at several Irish and British supermarkets. These supermarkets include; Tesco, Iceland, Lidi, Aldi and Dunnes.