Penn Jillette and Teller, from the Penn & Teller: Bullshit! TV show, calls in the latest episode organic food for “bullshit” (see video below). Penn and Teller’s main point why organic food is “bullshit” is simply because it “might mean you’re getting your food from giant corporations or China.”

But what Penn and Teller fail to mention is that the so called “Food Policy Analyst Expert”, Alex Avery, is paid by the Hudson Institute. The Hudson Institute is an American conservative, religious and free market think tank. Simply put, they are corporate lobbyists. And the prestigious-sounding Hudson Institute is funded by giant corporations such as Monsanto, the leading producer of genetically engineered (GE) food.

You also shouldn’t forget that Penn and Teller are members of the Cato Institute, which is another libertarian corporate think tank funded by such fine corporations as ExxonMobil. The Cato Institute is known for spreading and funding anti-scientific climate denialism and misinformation.

But this is not the first time Penn and Teller’s “Bullshit!” show receives criticism, and especially not when they cover environmental topics. In season one, aired 2003, Penn and Teller claims that the global warming crisis was created by “hysterical hippies and environmentalists”. Their biased and misinformed global warming episode has since then been criticized and debunked. Logical Science has listed and debunked the claims Penn and Teller made in the episode:

“In Episode 13, season 1 of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! they try to prove the global warming crisis, among other things, was created by the out of control imagination of hysterical hippies and environmentalists. This is why the episode is titled “Environmental Hysteria”.  We would just like to point out that Penn Jillette is a research fellow of the ExxonMobil and Industry funded CATO institute which has strong minarchist leanings. This gives Penn Jillete a conflict of interest when it comes to any topic that might require government regulation. During the show he puts Tobacco and Oil funded lobbyists against hippie college protesters.  If a fair match was their intent they should have those lawyers up against any of the scientists on this massive list. Granted the show was officially about “hysteria” and not science itself but that doesn’t excuse them for grossly misrepresenting a very strong scientific consensus and providing facts thats are demonstrably false.  The following is a quoted, sourced, and time stamped point by point analysis of their show. It will focus on the facts presented by Penn & Teller’s “experts”"

Another debunked claim by Penn and Teller is that recycling paper would pollute more than making new paper. This is a false claim:

“Recycling also helps prevent pollution. For example, recycling paper instead of making it from new material generates 74 percent less air pollution and uses 50 percent less water.

Simply put: Don’t trust a magician!

The current economy is forcing most of us to cut spending anywhere we can. But it looks like we are still willing to fork over a little green when it comes to green cosmetics.

I have recently spoken with a few organic cosmetics retailers on this subject and was surprised to find out that sales have actually been up since Election Day. There are two schools of thought on why this may be.

People want to feel good, and nontoxic organic beauty products are an affordable way to obtain this optimistic state of mind. While most of us are watching our dollars very closely these days, a vacation or even a massage may be out of the question. But a new lip shimmer or deliciously scented body oil is something that we can allow ourselves. And when that product is also free from toxic ingredients, it not only glams us up on the outside but also makes us feel better about what we are doing for our health.

Ellen Holder of Caren believes their consistent growth in sales is due to a more natural response to healthier choices. “Most of [our customers] aren’t buying organic beauty products from us. They are buying skin care solutions. Period. Our sales keep growing because many of our customers, both men and women, have no other choice. Synthetic chemicals in other products, whether mainstream or the health food stores’ “green washed” line up, have failed them.”

This is good news not only for those who are using safe organic skincare and beauty products but for the larger picture, as well. Simply put, the more organic products purchased, the more organic ingredients needed, which is good for our communities and our earth. Our purchasing power at work!

Whether a small pleasure or an absolute necessity, it seems nontoxic skincare and beauty products are securing their place in the mainstream.