Safe School Coalition
Working together to create toxin-free learning environments
Learn About Our Mission95.3%
of school lunch samples tested positive for glyphosate
6,293x
higher than EPA limits — heavy metals found in school meals
49
different pesticides detected across school lunch samples
Our Mission
Schools should be the safest places for our children. The Safe School Coalition unites parents, educators, health professionals, and advocacy organizations in a shared mission to eliminate toxic exposures in learning environments.
From the food served in cafeterias to the chemicals used on school grounds to the wireless infrastructure in classrooms, every aspect of the school environment should be evaluated through the lens of children’s health and safety.
Together, we are building a movement to ensure that every child in America has access to a school environment that supports their health, development, and ability to learn.
School Lunch Testing
Moms Across America commissioned independent testing of school lunch samples from across the country. The results were alarming: 95.3% of samples tested positive for glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide.
Heavy metals were found at levels up to 6,293 times higher than EPA maximum contaminant levels for drinking water. Lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury were all detected in school meals being served to children every day.
A total of 49 different pesticides were detected across the samples tested. Many of these are endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins, or probable carcinogens — and children are being exposed to combinations of them at every school lunch.
Safe School Meals Act
Senator Cory Booker introduced the Safe School Meals Act to establish testing requirements and safety standards for food served in the National School Lunch Program.
The legislation would require regular testing of school meals for pesticide residues, heavy metals, and other contaminants. It would also set maximum contaminant levels specifically calibrated for children’s developing bodies.
This bill represents a critical step toward ensuring that taxpayer-funded school meals actually nourish children rather than expose them to harmful chemicals. Contact your senators to voice your support.
Coalition Partners
The Safe School Coalition includes leading organizations fighting for children’s health: Children’s Health Defense (CHD), the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), the Center for Food Safety (CFS), and the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
Conscious Kitchen works directly with school districts to transform cafeteria programs, sourcing organic, locally grown food and training kitchen staff to prepare fresh, nutritious meals from scratch.
The Alliance for Research on Endocrine Disruptors (AIRE) provides scientific expertise on the health impacts of chemical exposures in school environments, helping to build the evidence base for policy change.
Take Action
Demand safer, toxin-free meals for every child in your school district.
Contact your school board and demand that school meals be tested for pesticide residues and heavy metals
Request independent food testing for your child’s school lunch program through a certified laboratory
Contact your U.S. senators to voice support for the Safe School Meals Act introduced by Senator Booker
Coalition Partners & Resources
Organizations fighting to make school environments safe for every child.
Children’s Health Defense
Legal advocacy and scientific research protecting children from environmental health threats including toxic food and chemical exposures.
Center for Food Safety
Nonprofit legal and advocacy organization challenging harmful food production technologies and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
Research and advocacy organization empowering people to live healthier lives through groundbreaking research on toxic chemicals in food and consumer products.
Organic Consumers Association
Grassroots nonprofit fighting for health, justice, and sustainability in food and farming policy.
Conscious Kitchen
Transforming school meal programs by sourcing organic, locally grown food and training staff to prepare fresh, nutritious meals.
Beyond Pesticides
National nonprofit working to eliminate pesticide use in schools, parks, and communities through advocacy, education, and policy reform.
Every Child Deserves Safe School Meals
Share this information with parents, school board members, and elected officials. Together we can ensure every school meal nourishes instead of harms.