Show Logan Utah Thursday June 28 1973 Tha Harold Journal- -1 3 Controversy Grows Over Banning Food Additives By MICHAEL WASHINGTON J CONLON (UPI) -B- efore this year is over cancer will strike another 665000 Few of them— or Americans their doctors— ever will know for sure how or where it started And before this year is over scientific tests coming every thing from food coining to bacon some by the government and others by private researchers will claim to have uncovered more links between the food that people eat and the malignancies they develop Few of those researchers would presume to claim they that have found something tration's Bureau of Foods gives this answer: "There are certain inescapable facts here One of them is that there is a certain kinship among all living things and the FDA to collect scientific evidence that would be required to determine both the pros and the cons of continuing the Delaney clause in its present form” The Delaney review was killed June 15 on the House floor when the requested (200000 appropriation was removed from the money bill In February of this year the industry-backe- d Nutrition Foundation and the Food and Drug law Institute announced formation of a “Citizens Commission on Science law and the Food of two the biology species the more they will tend to react in the same way to the same stimulus As a consequence the odds favor similarity in reaction between a test animal and man "The difficulty is obviously closer that you can't run damaging tests on man If you are going to have any evidence at all as a basis for a judgment as to courses of action you're going to have to get your evidence from animals whether you like it or not "So the selection of a test is a compromise species between one that is most similar to man in its reaction and one that has a short life cycle so that you get your answers in a reasonable time And of course the usual compromise is rats or mice" The tests usually involve high doses of the substance under so high that when study cyclamates were banned in 1969 critics said a man would have to drink 200 bottles of diet soft drinks a day to duplicate the animal test conditions Wodicka contends that high doses are necessary however to offset the fact that only small groups of animals usually are tested to keep costs down— "The higher the doses the the percentage of higher animals showing the effect” The Ralph Nader-backe- d Health Research Group in a document on the subject put it always causes cancer in all persons or even something that is more than just a part of the whole cancer puzzle In 1958 Congress decided that any cancer risk was too great a risk so far as the nation's food supply is concerned It passed a law which stated in its simplest terms says that no food additive found to cause cancer in man or animals shall be allowed And while only a relatively few substances ever have been banned under that law its force has been Ereventive has continued over whether its approach should be revised to permit scientists to set levels at which suspect food additives should be allowed in cases where the benefits might outweigh the risij At the heart of that debate is an even more basic question: How valid are animal tests for proving anything about cancer in man especially when the animals usually are fed more of this way: “If the test substance caused tlie substance being tested than a man ordinarily would con- cancer in 1 per cent of the animals exposed to it at low sume Dr Virgil Wodicka director levels it would be possible that of the Food and Drug Adminis- - none of 50 animals fed the substance would show tumors Yet if the substance had a carcinogenic (cancerous) effect in 1 per cent of the human population it might mean 2 million cancer victims Animals are fed high doses so that carcinogenic properties will be evident in small numbers of animals” Dr Samuel S Epstein professor of environmental health and human ecology at Case Western Reserve Univerand a sity in Cleveland By DICK WEST frequent witness at congressionDisWASHINGTON (UPI7 al inquiries into the subject closure that the federal govern- adds that there is "no valid ment has paid about $13 basis” for the claim that million for improvements to animals are much more sensiPresident Nixon's homes in tive to cancer-causin- g agents Calif pmia and Florida has generated a new outbreak of Flytraps Need Fertilizer - Supply" Critics immediately attacked it for not including consumer or public interest groups in its structure and said it was really the opening shot in a new industry war against the Delaney amendment The commission denied that the 1958 law had anything to do with its formation In the months since February it has been reorganizing itself and may not emerge in final form until later this summer Food and Drug Administration officials freely admit however that in their view the commission's role is at least partly to examine the Delaney amendment and they are glad of it Asked if it was fair to say that former FDA Commissioner Charles C Edwards now an from any viewpoint" In the years since then he said exceptions have been made for the growth stimulant DES later banned as a carcinogen and for some food colorings— not to mention the additives already recognized as safe or approved for use in food before the 1958 law was passed "Congress in attempting to deal in detail with just one of many thousands of safety issues has clearly floundered The rule it has erected is so riddled with exemptions and exceptions as indefensible form" to make it in its present Epstein however said criticism of the Delaney amendment is being renewed at a time when the sales of chemical additives are expected to grow from (485 million in 1970 to (750 million by 1980 “In providing a framework for evaluating potential hazards of these additives the Delaney clause simply ratifies the prevailing expert opinion in the National Cancer Institute and in other professionally qualified groups that there is no practical method to determine safe dietary levels for a carcinogen" Epstein said “Changing the Delaney clause to give FDA discretion to set tolerance for carinogcns is therefore not only scientifically inappropriate but administratively foolhardy" Many common food additives are among a list of more than 2000 such items being reviewed for safety by FI)A study groups These items were those “generally recognized as safe" before the 1958 law went into effect Hutt however said the review bogged down because of administrative problems since the FDA agreed to demands that consumer and public interest groups be allowed to participate in the review He predicted it will be six months to a year before the study is concluded Hutt added: the viewpoint and I will defend it to my dying breath that we have a safer food supply than ever before in "I take history and certainly safer than any other country in the world And to panic the public into thinking that the end of the world is upon us that we're being poisoned every day is just absolutely ludicrous “When you look around at the carcinogens in the air and then worry about the trivial things we eat you've got your priorities out of line" assistant secretary in the Education and Welfare Department and other officials helped “inspire" the commission's formation FDA general counsel Peter B Hutt said: “Yes it is fair It was indeed FDA wanted to see it get going This is an issue of sufficient public importance that it ought to be aired We said there ought to be this kind of inquiry but we don't want to be a part of it We've got to enforce the law as it is today and we’re Health doing THE RABBIT IS one of the animals used by scientists and researchers in the quest to make the nation’s food supply safer Before this year is over scientific tests covering everything from than humans In the case of thalidomide the tranquilizer found to cause birth defects Epstein said tests showed “humans are 60 times more sensitive than mice 100 times more sensitive than rats 200 times more sensitive than dogs and 700 times more sensitive than hamsters" Epstein is one of 'those who believes there is another effort under way to change the 1958 law generally known as the Delaney amendment after its food coloring to bacon win claim to have more links between the food that people eat and the maiignnacies they develop (UPI) author Rep James J changed At least one move has been “The food and chemical made in Congress for a review industry has sounded alarms of the 1958 law On June 8 the House Appropriations Committhat the clause if continuing will enforced substantially tee approved a major money hamper production of food by bill coming the FDA and other modem scientific technology" regulatory agencies which inthe Epstein told a gathering of cluded (200000 “to permit scientists in January at the New York Academy of Sciences There was general agreement at the meeting Epstein and other participants said that the law should not be Delaney that” Hutt who does not expect any change in the law in the near future said in a speech on May 15 that the present law and related revisions in other food and animal drug laws since 1958 “are indefensible g among administration critics The fact that the improvements were requested by the Secret Service fix’ security purposes appears to have made little impression on those deploring the expenditures “Here's a (1950 item for tush-tushin- pruning trees” my friend Ernie Spa decaller pointed out as he was looking over the list of bills the government paid at San Clemente “How could that have anything to do with security?” 1 said "Ernie you obviously have little or no concept of what security for the President entails "It very definitely is one of the responsibilities of the Secret Service to protect the President from falling tree limbs That can only be done by pruning the dead wood” “Okay" Spadecaller said “let's assume that was a legitimate expenditure But how about this (523 for repairing the gazebo?” "Ernie” I said “you couldn't believe the pitfalls that await a President in a dilapidated gazebo" “What's so dangerous about a little tin musical instrument?” “You are thinking about a kazoo" I said “A gazebo is an open air summerhouse If you don't keep those things fixed up you're courting disaster” Denied his little triumph Spadecaller became sullen He scanned the list in silence a few minutes then pounced again “Aha! What about this (476 for painting the flagpole?" “It's reassuring to learn the Secret Service was alert to that hazard" I said “An unpainted flagpole could quickly rust in the salt air and thus weakened topple over on the President as he was raising the colors" Spadecaller sulked several minutes longer then said “I suppose you can rationalize a security angle for this (460 bill for fertilizer too?" “Yes indeed You certainly wouldn't want the President to be bitten by a tsetse fly One way to help prevent that is to cover the property with s Those plants need a lot of fertilizer" "But there aren't any tsetse flies in southern California" Spadecaller protested I said “That proves the security system is working That (4M was money well This “Four in one” thermos and food from Aladdin will add to your pleasure this summer and make a picnic out of picnics The large thermos is fully insulated lets you carry either hot or cold drinks jar combination Thieves Vandals Coyotes Foxes Jack rabbits And accidents A security area light protects you and your property while you sleep There's a flat rate for dawn to dusk security lighting using the small post lights -j- ust $215 a month This charge covers costs of installation and maintenance (replacing burned out bulbs) Your electricity cost will add only about 50 1 per month because this light saves energy by going off at dawn and on at dusk For the & Light larger area lights (7000 and 20000 lumens) contact Utah Power All of the security lights are costs for and recommendations Company “electric eyes" -- on at dusk -- off at dawn by It makes good sense to be safe The whole set fils snugly Inside this handsome leatherette carrying case that’s easy to tote on hikes and outings con-trolle- d Hot h Gold Thermos Set light-sensitiv- e MJIl Thermos Set Olfer PO Hox77l()l Security Light San I Niime I Address Utah Power & Light Co Electricity-K- ey s I 94107 Lnekised is my check or money order for $995 and the letters "MJIT cut out from the plastic lid of any MJI) coffee can Please send my thermos set to Venus'-flytrap- spent"' I to a brighter and better em inmmrnt Each food Jar has an exclusive freezer lid that keeps snacks or drinks cooled for hours The coolant liquid Is sealed in the lid and can he as often as you like City Offer expires December 31 1973 Void where prohibited or allow f weeks for delivery restricted by law Please 4-- I |