PeaceLove sez, "Shocking Mother Jones article about a Cornucopia Institute report on how many of the most popular veggie burgers are made with hexane, a neurotoxic byproduct of gas refining."

In order to meet the demands of health-conscious consumers, manufacturers of soy-based fake meat like to make their products have as little fat as possible. The cheapest way to do this is by submerging soybeans in a bath of hexane to separate the oil from the protein. Says Cornucopia Institute senior researcher Charlotte Vallaeys, "If a non-organic product contains a soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrate, or texturized vegetable protein, you can be pretty sure it was made using soy beans that were made with hexane."

If you've heard about hexane before, it was likely in the context of gasoline--the air pollutant is also a byproduct of gas refining. But in 2007, grain processors were responsible for two-thirds of our national hexane emissions. Hexane is hazardous in the factory, too: Workers who have been exposed to it have developed both skin and nervous system disorders. Troubling, then, that the FDA does not monitor or regulate hexane residue in foods. More worrisome still: According to the report, "Nearly every major ingredient in conventional soy-based infant formula is hexane extracted."

Here's some of the soy brands that contain neurotoxins: "Boca Burger (conventional), Franklin Farms, Garden Burger, It's All Good Lightlife, Morningstar Farms, President's Choice, Taste Above, Trader Joe's, Yves Veggie Cuisine."

And here's some that are free from hexane: "Boca Burgers (Made with organic soy), Helen's Kitchen, Morningstar (Made with organic), Superburgers by Turtle Island, Tofurky, Wildwood."

This is one way in which the "organic" label is more than just a greenwash! On the other hand, anything labelled as "made with organic ingredients" instead of "organic" can have hexane or plutonium or whatever.

Which Veggie Burgers Were Made With a Neurotoxin? (Thanks, PeaceLove!)

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/04/14/soyburgers-laced-wit.html