<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for The road to disodium inosinate is paved with good intentions]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by afridley http://www.grist.org/article/teen_diet/ Thu, 27 Sep 2007 06:42:36 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/teen_diet/1 Chew on this

A great read for tweens and teens is Eric Schlosser's "Chew on This" about the fast food industry.  My 11 year old just ate it up (sorry about that).  While he was reading it he would come to us (his parents) and read excerpts from it.  And this is a kid who usually has to grilled with probing questions and threats just to get the name of the main character.  When he finished the book he came to us again and THANKED us for feeding him health food.  I had to pick my wife up off the floor...

]]> Chew on this

A great read for tweens and teens is Eric Schlosser's "Chew on This" about the fast food industry.  My 11 year old just ate it up (sorry about that).  While he was reading it he would come to us (his parents) and read excerpts from it.  And this is a kid who usually has to grilled with probing questions and threats just to get the name of the main character.  When he finished the book he came to us again and THANKED us for feeding him health food.  I had to pick my wife up off the floor...

]]> Comment #2 by nanderson2009 http://www.grist.org/article/teen_diet/ Tue, 27 May 2008 23:26:16 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/teen_diet/2 fear factor

I am honestly tired of the media misinterpreting scientific data and presenting it to the public as demonstrated in this article.  I am a biochemist studying nutrition and am frustrated with what these authors have been able to get away with.  For example, the acrylamide levels which Amy reports are  biased.  All starchy foods which have been heated contain some levels of acrylamide.  Amy is correct in stating that fried french fries and chips contain acrylamide but fails to mention that baked potato chips, onion soup, and toasted bread contain even higher levels of the "harmful" chemical.  Amy's rant about nitrates are also one sided.  Hot dogs and other preserved meats do contain levels of nitrates which have been shown to be carcinogens. What Amy failed to mention is that the nitrates are put into these meats to protect us from harmful bacteria, such as botulism and tetanus, which can release toxins so potent that they can cause severe health problems and can even prove to be fatal. Lastly, organic produce can be just as harmful and in many cases are more detrimental to the environment.  The "organic" substances which organic farmers use to control pests have not been tested and are not under the same standards as the traditional pesticides.  Consumers still need to thoroughly wash their produce regardless.  I'm sure Amy had good intentions when writing this article.  The problem is that this article invokes unnecessary fear for parents.  Traditional produce is still safe to consume as long as it is washed properly and the chemicals above should not pose a problem if consumed in moderation.  I believe organic foods offer people a false sense of safety but proper preparation should still be taken.  

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I am honestly tired of the media misinterpreting scientific data and presenting it to the public as demonstrated in this article.  I am a biochemist studying nutrition and am frustrated with what these authors have been able to get away with.  For example, the acrylamide levels which Amy reports are  biased.  All starchy foods which have been heated contain some levels of acrylamide.  Amy is correct in stating that fried french fries and chips contain acrylamide but fails to mention that baked potato chips, onion soup, and toasted bread contain even higher levels of the "harmful" chemical.  Amy's rant about nitrates are also one sided.  Hot dogs and other preserved meats do contain levels of nitrates which have been shown to be carcinogens. What Amy failed to mention is that the nitrates are put into these meats to protect us from harmful bacteria, such as botulism and tetanus, which can release toxins so potent that they can cause severe health problems and can even prove to be fatal. Lastly, organic produce can be just as harmful and in many cases are more detrimental to the environment.  The "organic" substances which organic farmers use to control pests have not been tested and are not under the same standards as the traditional pesticides.  Consumers still need to thoroughly wash their produce regardless.  I'm sure Amy had good intentions when writing this article.  The problem is that this article invokes unnecessary fear for parents.  Traditional produce is still safe to consume as long as it is washed properly and the chemicals above should not pose a problem if consumed in moderation.  I believe organic foods offer people a false sense of safety but proper preparation should still be taken.  

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