In the Media

 I'm Dr. Norah MacKendrick and I've studied the consumer marketplace for non-toxic and green products for over 15 years. My award-winning book, Better Safe Than Sorry: How Consumers Navigate Exposure to Everyday Toxics brought national and international attention to the struggles consumers (and mothers in particular) face when trying to avoid toxic chemicals on their own.

Through my research and teaching I stay up-to-date on the latest science and consumer product testing. My specialty is cutting through false advertising or 'greenwashing' as companies promise to cut harmful substances from their products but replace them with an equally toxic substitute. I call this strategy the "toxic swap."

As a mother of two boys and a professor of sociology who has worked closely with mothers and pregnant people, I understand the full range of worries and concerns that come with pregnancy and raising a family. 

I'm committed to advocating for change in manufacturing practices and policy so that all people, no matter where they live or what they can afford, can have a clean and safe environment. Click here to learn more about my academic work.