PILGRIM'S UPDATE: Why Organic Whole Foods Are Your Health’s Best Defense

Author: Joe Hamilton, Team Captain

For the last 25 years I have devoted myself to empowering you to nourish your body with foods that foster vitality. Today, we face a critical choice: ultra-processed foods (UPFs), packed with over 20,000 additives and potential toxins, or organic whole foods that deliver dense nutrition without harmful chemicals. The chronic disease epidemic—striking 42% of children and 60% of adults with obesity, diabetes, and heart disease—demands we embrace certified organic or locally grown, herbicide-free foods to reduce toxic stress and promote lasting wellness. I am so encouraged that this topic is being discussed nationally, largely because of the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

UPFs (Ultra processed foods), like sugary cereals, sodas, packaged snacks, and of course fast foods, dominate diets, making up 70% of children’s calories. Laden with artificial dyes, preservatives like BHT, and sweeteners like aspartame, these foods are linked to serious health risks. A 2019 The BMJ study found high UPF intake increases heart disease and cancer mortality risk by 62%. A 2021 Nutrients study showed additives like emulsifiers disrupt gut microbiota, driving obesity and diabetes, while a 2020 Journal of Pediatrics study tied dyes like Red No. 40 to ADHD symptoms in children. UPFs’ low nutrient-to-calorie ratio fuels obesity (40.3% of adults) and type 2 diabetes (over 350,000 children diagnosed), unlike whole foods’ nutrient-rich profile. Although the certified organic packaged foods in Pilgrims are free from thousands of potentially harmful additives, they should still be eaten sparingly and your diet should greatly favor organic whole foods, prepared in our kitchens or your own, with minimal processing.

Pesticides like glyphosate, used in conventional farming, heighten this crisis. A 2020 University of Washington study (Environmental Research) found children on typical diets had high glyphosate levels in their urine, which dropped 70% on an organic diet. This shows organic foods reduce toxic exposure. Over 100,000 lawsuits against Monsanto since 2015, linking Roundup (glyphosate) to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, underscore the urgency of avoiding such chemicals. Choosing organic produce or locally grown foods from farmers who shun harmful pesticides protects against stressors tied to cancer and other diseases.

Industry lobbyists have worsened this through the FDA’s “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) program, allowing companies to self-certify over 10,000 additives without rigorous testing. A 2013 Pew Charitable Trusts report noted many GRAS substances, like propylparaben, lack independent safety studies, raising risks of metabolic and neurological harm. U.S. labeling laws hide thousands of additives under vague terms like “natural flavors,” leaving all of us unaware. Even certified organic processed foods, while safer, may include some additives. Whole foods—fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and pasture-raised meats—are the ultimate shield, free from the 40,000+ synthetic chemicals in our environment (Environmental Health Perspectives, 2021).

Why are UPF’s so popular? Because they are addictive! The addictiveness of UPFs stems from the 1980s and 1990s, when tobacco giants like Philip Morris, facing cancer-related lawsuits, acquired food companies like Kraft. Social media posts from @HealthTruthX on X note these companies used tobacco’s addictive strategies—sugar, salt, and flavor enhancers—to make UPFs irresistible, contributing to obesity and diabetes epidemics. Whole foods, rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, offer a high nutrient-to-calorie ratio which is much more supportive to your health.

At Pilgrim’s Market, our organic produce, free from glyphosate, delivers nutrients like vitamin D and iron, often lacking in UPF-heavy diets. Our grass-fed meats and whole grains reduce chronic disease risk, while supplements like omega-3s and probiotics, backed by a 2022 Frontiers in Nutrition study, boost immunity and curb inflammation. Alarming statistics—1 in 31 children with autism, 73% of young adults reporting loneliness—highlight the need for change.

I’m greatly encouraged by national attention to these issues. Advocates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are pushing for food safety reforms, aligning with my personal mission. The 2025 “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) Report identifies poor diet, chemical exposures, and overmedicalization as chronic disease drivers, urging a shift to whole foods. Learn more at HHS.gov or CivilEats.com.

Thank you for your continued support. Pilgrim’s Market is truly unique because we continue to invest in our store like no other. The profits we earn from your support are first shared with our hard-working staff members and then re-invested into things like our farm, located behind the store, and our 3 other off-site buildings where we are creating amazingly healthy foods created with certified organic ingredients that are minimally processed but amazingly delicious. With your continued support we can build a healthier future for our families together!

Sources

• The BMJ (2019): “Ultra-processed food intake and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.” DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l1451

• Nutrients (2021): “Impact of food additives on gut microbiota and metabolic health.” DOI: 10.3390/nu13020621

• Journal of Pediatrics (2020): “Artificial food dyes and behavioral effects in children.” DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.07.012

• Environmental Research (2020): “Glyphosate excretion is reduced in children on an organic diet.” DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109518

• Pew Charitable Trusts (2013): “Fixing the Oversight of Chemicals Added to Our Food.” pewtrusts.org

• Environmental Health Perspectives (2021): “Cumulative chemical exposures in the U.S. population.” DOI: 10.1289/EHP9347

• Frontiers in Nutrition (2022): “Role of omega-3 and probiotics in chronic disease prevention.” DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.876296

• MAHA Report (2025): Statistics on chronic disease and additives. hhs.gov

• X Post by @HealthTruthX (2024): Tobacco companies’ role in food industry.

• Reuters (2023): “Monsanto Roundup lawsuits surpass 100,000.” reuters.com