ustxtxb_obs_1970_11_27_50_00017-00000_000.pdf

r Happ iness Is Printing By w p FUTURA PRESS i.e Phone 512/442.783b . 1714 SOUTH CONGRESS P.O. BOX 3485 AUSTIN,TEX&S Newspapers Magazines Political Specialists Signs and Placards Bumperstrips Office Supplies 100% Union Shop 1 4idektalk cafe ist coareaeatai Aeageme Peed, weae, 944teletd 24e4 Sao /lama &eared /4ede to az le9Itt oi tle 7exa4 Ogleuiet Aiwa 472-2746 fruit.” Regret for this industry loss maSI be modified by recalling industry’s massive production of cyclamates for weight control, whereas its use for this purpose is of no practical value. MANY SCIENTISTS are convinced that chemicals producing abnormalities in animals are likely to produce some kind of problem in people, even though they do not know what the problem will be. By 1958 there were 704 chemical additives in our food supply of which only 428 were definitely known to be safe. Thus 726 chemicals had not been proven safe, but were in our food. Nearly two thirds of these do not appear on labels. “The next 12 months of the F.D.A.’s life,” Turner warns, “will perhaps be the most telling in its confused history . . . with the battle for a clean environment under way . . . the F.D.A. is clearly going to be at the center of major political battles once again.. .” It should establish as its basic guideline the observation of the Food Safety Panel of the 1969 White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health: “It is essential that the chemical environment be controlled as completely as possible…” The Nader team says that the credibility of the F.D.A. should be restored and its scientific capability improved. This credibility could be achieved substantially by drawing on scientific personnel from such places as the University of California at Riverside, Cornell University, the University of Florida, the University of Missouri, New York State University at Stonybrook; also the state governments of Wisconsin and California, all of which have personnel trained in pesticide control and in the protection of the environment. Upgrading the scientific fitness of the agency has been recommended for years, since the first Citizens Advisory Committee on the problems of the F.D.A. was called Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. However, little has been done. “Nearly all research on food additive safety,” the report comments, “is conducted by industry, not the F.D.A.” Another report recommendation is the abolition of the generally recognized as on the recommendations of scientists, the original list was put together on the basis of questionable criteria and in many cases over the protests of the very scientists whose opinions had been solicited. \(Henry M. Burlage of the University of Texas questioned the safety of ammonium carbonate. The F.D.A. dismissed the question tersely, saying, “Henry M. Burlage is not qualified to discuss the safety of ammonium carbonate.” Other scientists questioned substance after substance, including cyclamates, and had their Perhaps the most pointed recommendation of the book is that consumers should get into the act. One indignant consumer, not necessarily a Ralph Nader, can raise a voice in the supermarket or by mail to the manufacturer. Both market and manufacturer are often more sensitive to consumer criticism than is assumed. Few consumer organizations exist in Texas, but let them put forth their names and addresses in this journal and new members will be ready , for them. To be effective, consumers must be informed. The Chemical Feast should be in Award for R.D. Our Publisher keeps getting awards. Since he is a modest fellow, the editors learn about these things from press releases. The latest kudo in Ronnie Dugger’s collection is from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Dugger took top prize for excellence in business, economic and financial writing in the category for general circulation magazines. The award was for his article on “Oil and Politics” in A tlan tic magazine. The concensus of the judges read: “Skillful research; substantial topic; courageous journalism. The story of politics and oil is absolutely vital for educated people to understand. This type of incisive writing makes a complex subject easily understood a heroic job of ferreting out detail and aligning it in meaningful fashion against the sounding board of politics.” 0 irony of ironies. The cash for the award Dugger received was put up by the Independent Natural Gas Association of America. Reprints of “Oil and Politics” are available through the Observer office. every home as well as the authoritative works on nutrition by Adelle Davis. The White House Conference also called for a food chemical dictionary to be placed in the hands of the public. It would list alphabetically all chemical names that appear on any label and explain their function and any possible danger. Our new F.D.A. commissioner, Dr. Charles C. Edwards, seems already to be entrapped by industry and by bureaucratic supporters of industry within the agency. Edwards came in, as have others, with high resolve. It is not too late to restore this resolve and to strengthen the hand of the many dedicated and capable persons within the agency who could aid in reform. If he is to redeem our system of food protection he must, of course, have a push from and the support of vocal and informed consumers. November 27, 1970 17