A new study by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy found that nearly half of the samples of commercial high-fructose corn syrup they tested contained mercury, which is highly toxic. They also tested 55 major brand-name processed foods and beverages where high-fructose corn syrup is the first or second main ingredient, and found that about one third contained mercury.

Most foods targeted at children contain high-fructose corn syrup, which is monstrously unhealthy even without the poisonous metallic liquid.

This news doesn't change my previous ongoing advice, which is to read the labels and never, ever eat foods or drink beverages that contain high-fructose corn syrup.

The anti-inflammatory foods craze has recently given Omega-6 Fatty Acids, which you'll find in vegetables, nuts and seeds, a bad name. Now the American Heart Association is stepping forward to put such junk science to rest.

According to an article in today's Washington Post, "the debate arose because arachidonic acid, a component of omega-6 fatty acids, is a building block for some inflammation-related molecules, and there have been fears that it might increase the risk of heart disease." But according to William S. Harris, director of the Metabolism and Nutrition Research Center of the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine:

"That reflects a rather naive understanding of the biochemistry. Omega-6 fatty acids give rise to both pro-inflammatory compounds and anti-inflammatory compounds. To say that they are bad because they produce pro-inflammatory compounds ignores the fact that they give rise to anti-inflammatory compounds as well."

Are Omega-6 Fatty Acids good for you? Of course they are!

About 367,000 American children are vegetarians, according to a new study by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the number is reportedly rising. Part of the rise is cause by videos on YouTube that show cruelty to animals on farms, and young viewers choosing vegetarianism based on that awareness. The 1 in 200 figure, which represents .5% of the child population, counts all minors, but older teen vegetarian rates "could be four to six times" that percentage.

Today is the first day of school for Malia and Sasha Obama, daughters of President Elect Barack Obama and future first lady Michelle. The kids' new school is the prestigious Sidwell Friends school in Washington, D.C. The school, which costs $30,000 per year per child to attend, serves all-organic lunches, according to a report this morning on "Good Morning America." Michelle Obama has made it clear in interviews that she feeds her family organic foods whenever she can.

Meanwhile, at nearby Washington, D.C., public schools, the children of less wealthy, less powerful parents are being served toxic, industrial, non-organic foods. And likewise at nearly every public school across the nation.

During the campaign, all candidates, including Obama, talked endlessly about what was always categorized as "healthcare," when in fact it was all about healthcare insurance. "Health" almost never came up during the campaign, nor did the US government's massive corporate welfare program, which subsidizes the most toxic and unhealthy foods, while leaving healthy and organic food producers to fend for themselves on this uneven playing field.

Nevertheless, I and many others remain hopeful that the Obama's awareness about the superiority of organic foods will lead to actual policy changes that put organic food in every school and every home, and stop the obesity, diabetes and cancer epidemics where they start: with our diets.

Barack Obama: We applaud your good parenting, and your desire to take care of your kids. But starting January 20, you're our president. And we're counting on you to take care of our kids, too.