BEHIND THIS PROJECT

My name is Laurence Jacques. I studied science and I have always been passionate about health and well-being.

In 2017, I came across research and reports that had already raised questions about the use of hexane in food extraction. Scientists, doctors, and organizations had been highlighting its potential effects on health for years, but outside of professional or academic circles, this information was hardly reaching the public.

I wasn’t the first to discover this reality, but like many others, I was struck by how little visibility it had, despite the fact that it concerns something as essential as the food we share every day. I realized that the story of hexane is not new—it has been studied, documented, and debated for decades—but what is missing is often the bridge between science and everyday life.

That is what motivated me to take part in this wider movement. With the Hexane-Free website, my aim is not to reinvent the conversation, but to relay what is already known, to bring together scientific knowledge in one place, and to make it accessible and understandable for consumers, health professionals, scientists, and decision-makers alike.

My hope is simple: that by joining my voice to those who have worked on this topic for years, we can contribute to greater awareness, more transparency, and gradual progress towards safer practices in food and health.

The practical conclusions I draw from my knowledge of hexane, which guide my daily actions :

1. Today, the only way to reduce exposure to hexane is by choosing organic products, especially for animal products, and press oils. Unfortunately, the cost of organic food remains prohibitive for many consumers. I dream of hexane-free certified conventional products at reasonable prices, accessible to all.
2. The average hexane contamination of European consumers appears significant. Traces in urine are 140 times higher than those of glyphosate, while n-hexane is considered at least 8 times more toxic than this pesticide. Around 99% of this exposure comes from food. Eliminating n-hexane from our food and everyday products represent an exceptional lever for improving the health of everyone, including the most vulnerable.
3. Working at all levels to eliminate hexane from our plates could contribute to reducing health burdens associated with infertility, Parkinson’s disease, polyneuropathies and even metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Let’s prioritise prevention rather than investing in treatments for the consequences of hexane exposure.

Take good care

Laurence Jacques