The Shocking Truth About "Healthy" Foods
Here's something that might surprise you: many products we think are healthy actually have dangerous stuff in them. Yikes, right?
The Clean Label Project (CLP) just did a study. They tested 165 popular snack and nutrition bars. The results? Every single product had harmful chemicals. We're talking heavy metals, plasticizers, herbicides, and pesticides, in foods sold as "healthy."1
Many brands seem to ignore this problem. But we at Wholesome Story take it seriously. That's why all our supplements are Clean Label Project certified. We believe you should have access to clean products.
If you’re researching how to find clean, toxin-free supplements, this information will help you understand the science and what to look for.
What Is the Clean Label Project?: Finding Hidden Toxins
So what is the Clean Label Project? They're a nonprofit group. Their mission is to bring truth to food labels. Pretty cool, right?
Their recent study was big. They did over 20,000 lab tests on 165 top-selling bars. The shocking finding? 100% of products tested had toxic contaminants in them, particularly heavy metals and plasticizers.1
This is why we chose CLP certification for our supplements. While other brands often fail these rigorous tests, we have been making clean products from the start.
Heavy Metals: Hidden Toxins Found In Health Foods
Let's talk about heavy metals. These include arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium. The study found that every single product had these metals, and that 22% of the products exceeded California's Prop 65 safety rules.1
(Prop 65 is among the strictest food safety legislation in the USA and is often used as the standard for contamination thresholds amongst brands that really care about cleanliness.)
Heavy metals can cause serious health problems. They can damage your nervous system and raise your cancer risk. Lead is particularly bad for kids and can cause learning problems and developmental issues.2
At Wholesome Story, we work with suppliers to source clean ingredients for our products. Our testing makes sure we meet Prop 65 standards, so you can feel good about what you’re putting in your body.
BPA and Other Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals: Our Clean Promise
BPA stands for bisphenol-A. It is a kind of plastic that’s often used in packaging and equipment used to make food. Here's the problem: BPA messes with your hormones. This may cause problems with fertility and also increase cancer risk.3,4
Hormone-disrupting chemicals are especially risky for kids and pregnant women. They may contribute to developmental issues, hormone-induced weight gain, diabetes, and more.3,4
We test all our products for chemicals that mess with hormones. In fact, many of our products have won CLP Purity Awards. This means they are among the cleanest products on the market.
The Wholesome Story Difference: Setting the Standard With Clean Label Supplements
All Wholesome Story supplements are Clean Label Project certified.
We work closely with suppliers to make sure our supplement ingredients are clean. No exceptions, no excuses.
CLP certification means tough third-party testing. It's much stricter and more comprehensive than what the law requires. Our Purity Award winners prove we're not just meeting standards. We're doing better than them.
Choose Clean, Choose Wholesome Story
Look, dirty food and supplement products are a real problem. But you don't have to accept it.
Wholesome Story can be your trusted source for clean supplements. Our CLP certification gives you peace of mind. You know what you're taking is actually clean.
Ready to see the difference? Check out our CLP-certified supplements today. You deserve to know your supplements are truly clean.
Questions: Did you know about the bad stuff in your everyday products? Does this make you want to check what's in your supplements? Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok!
In parting, remember that eating healthy, whole foods, and lots of plant foods is one of the simplest, safest, and most effective things we can do to promote good health in our bodies. As with every preventative/restorative measure though, sometimes these changes alone are not enough to help our bodies function the way we want or need them to. If you are struggling with health problems, please contact your doctor or other healthcare provider such as a Naturopathic Doctor, Dietitian, or Mental Health Professional to see if they can offer appropriate guidance and care. We at Wholesome Story believe that healthy communities require community effort, so we advise you to keep your healthcare community aware and involved in your journey as you pursue better health.
Sources:
1.Key Findings in Snack and Nutrition Bars CLP Insights. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://cleanlabelproject.org/wp-content/uploads/CLP_SnackAndNutritionBarStudy_052725.pdf
2.Balali-Mood M, Naseri K, Tahergorabi Z, Khazdair MR, Sadeghi M. Toxic Mechanisms of Five Heavy Metals: Mercury, Lead, Chromium, Cadmium, and Arsenic. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2021;12(643972). doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.643972
3.Cimmino I, Fiory F, Perruolo G, et al. Potential Mechanisms of Bisphenol A (BPA) Contributing to Human Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(16):5761. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21165761
4.National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Endocrine Disruptors. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Published July 22, 2024. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine