Educate Ourselves, Patients and the Public

Dear Editor:

I was delighted to see your recent article on food additives (www.chiroweb.com/archives/26/04/13.html), namely artificial colors and sodium benzoate, and their effects on children.

I'm sure you're aware these are not the only food additives that cause adverse effects on children and the population in general.

I also suspect you are aware that the reason the FDA has not taken the actions to protect the public from harmful additives in our food is because of the strong influence the food industry has over the FDA, as well as what has been called the "revolving door of employment" between the FDA and the food, drug and cosmetic industries. You've probably noticed nutritional supplements are now commonplace in grocery stores and the mainstream food industry is trying to break into the organic marketplace.

It is clear that even though the food, drug and cosmetic industries exert powerful influence over the FDA, as consumer demand shifts to healthier alternatives, these industries want to maintain and increase their share of the marketplace. Because the food industry is so powerful and has so much money, it will take consumer demand to make the changes the FDA should be making in the interest of public health.

Currently, most consumers receive their health and nutrition information from the media and from organizations controlled by the powerful food, drug and cosmetic industries. Consumers are being given misinformation, and they believe it because they don't know where else to go to get the facts.

We need to educate our patients, their families and our communities about food additives, nutrition, healthy eating and other vital health information. But sadly, most chiropractors don't even know this information. I was in a chiropractic office recently and right up at the front desk was a big bowl of candy, artificially colored with the toxic FD&C colors derived from coal tar, a carcinogen that causes hyperactivity and other adverse effects in our children. If we educate our doctors and they educate their patients and their families, it will have a ripple effect all the way up to the industry and the government.

Christine H. Farlow, DC
Escondido, Calif.