WASHINGTON — As summer winds to a close, backyard grillers may be looking back on their last barbecue and asking some rather pointed questions: Why was the grilled chicken so dry? Does eating charred meat really cause cancer? Why did Uncle Fred pucker and cringe after each sip of beer? [MORE]
Is HFCS a source of mercury in the American diet?
The average American consumes about 50 grams of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) per day. Preliminary studies have revealed that products containing high amounts of HFSC also contain mercury, a toxic metal contaminant. "Mercury from chlor-alkali plants: measured concentrations in food product sugar," was assembled by health and environmental researchers. More on the study here.
The Corn Refiners Association responds to the charges by stating that the study is outdated. There is likely to be more on this story in the future.
March 27, 2009 Update."New findings challenge studies linking mercury to HFCS - CRA"
Results from third-party testing conducted on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from all the production facilities in the US and Canada show that no quantifiable levels of mercury were detected in any of the samples analyzed, claims the CRA.
According to the Corn Refiners Association (CRA), the North American manufacturers of commissioned independent testing and expert review following recent reports alleging mercury findings in the food and beverage ingredient. [MORE]
More on HFCS (November 2009): Is HFCS Natural?
Probing question: Is plastic dangerous?
Sipping water from a bottle after a workout, microwaving a container of leftovers for lunch, giving the baby a bottle of milk: We use plastic every day, without even thinking about it. But numerous reports have suggested that exposure to bisphenol-A, an organic compound present in many food and beverage containers, could actually be damaging to our health. Is plastic dangerous? [MORE]
Update June 2009
Study shows BPA may leach from plastic bottles abstract
In a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, Harvard School of Public Health researchers found that participants who drank for a week from polycarbonate bottles showed a two-thirds increase in their urine of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA). The study, according to its authors, is the first to show that drinking from polycarbonate bottles increases the level of urinary BPA.
Latest from FDA - January 2010
FDA’s Update on Bisphenol A for Use in Food: January 2010
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that has been present in many hard plastic bottles and metal-based food and beverage cans since the 1960s. FDA is taking reasonable steps to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply. These steps include:
- Supporting the industry’s actions to stop producing BPA-containing baby bottles and infant feeding cups for the U.S. market;
- Facilitating the development of alternatives to BPA for the linings of infant formula cans; and
- Aupporting efforts to replace BPA or minimize BPA levels in other food can linings.
FDA is supporting a shift to a more robust regulatory framework for oversight of BPA. In addition, the Agency is seeking further public comment and external input on the science surrounding BPA.
View this press release in its entirety:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm064437.htmRead the full January 2010 update on Bisphenol A for use in food contact applications, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm197739.htmRead Bisphenol A (BPA) Information for Parents:
http://www.hhs.gov/safety/bpa/BPA in Cans Poses Health Threat, Report Claims. May 18, 2010
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/639231.html?campaign_id=rss_topStoriesNovember 1, 2010. Bisphenol A (BPA) in U.S. Food. Enviromental Science and Technology. BPA was found in 63 of 105 sample food samples, including fresh turkey, canned green beans, and canned infant formula. However, levels were 1,000 times lower than the “tolerable daily intake” levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
