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The summer is in full swing and whether your kids will be in camp, you’ll be traveling, or staying close to home, one thing you can count on is that they’ll be asking for plenty of snacks. Although snacks made with organic foods are ideal, they’re not all created equal. Many options may still have pesticides, heavy metals, and toxins, which we definitely don’t want in our kids’ bodies, but figuring out whether a product is clean or not—even if it is organic—isn’t always easy.
In this episode, I sat down with Colleen Kavanaugh, co-founder, and CEO of ZEGO, the first purity-transparent food company that produces products with superfoods that are tested for over 400 chemicals including glyphosate, heavy metals, common allergens, and gluten.
Colleen initially founded ZEGO because she was looking for healthy, nutritious snacks that weren’t overly processed and safe for kids with food allergies. She decided she would also go on a quest to learn more about the food industry and try to uncover a link between certain foods and autoimmunity and cancer. Later down the line, someone told her about glyphosate, a toxin found in food, and she discovered that companies aren’t required to test for toxins. As a result, her business evolved and she added purity testing and standards.
Colleen and I talked about why she started ZEGO, the void she’s filling in the marketplace, and some of the challenges she had that turned out to be blessings. She also shares advice for parents who want to start similar businesses and her best tips for getting kids to eat better, even when parents don’t have a lot of time.
Welcome
2:55 Let’s talk about your story!
6:46 What did you discover about requirements—or lack thereof—for food companies?
11:32 What should parents know about toxins?
14:02 What does ZEGO offer and what makes you different from your competitors?
18:35 Why did you start the company?
23:11 How did you know other parents wanted these products?
27:03 Let’s talk about your journey to launching the company: what were the steps you took to get it off the ground?
31:01 What were challenges you encountered along the way that turned out to be a learning lesson?
33:43 What advice do you have for mom entrepreneurs who may want to start this type of business?
35:08 What is the future for the company?
37:28 What are your best tips for parents who want their kids to eat better, but don’t have the time?
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
Colleen mentions Proposition 65.
Colleen talks about Dr. David Lustig and Jonathan Shambroom, her co-founder.
Colleen mentions Indiegogo, Astia Angels, One World, and WBENC.
Learn more about ZEGO on their website.
Follow ZEGO on Instagram and Facebook.
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