FDA
The FDA advises not to eat alfalfa sprouts; they have been linked to salmonella food poisoning (about 100 cases/year, although eggs have been linked to about 118,000/year) (see also here).
Feeding arsenic to chickens and pigs has been approved by the FDA to increase the rate of weight gain. Arsenic-containing drugs are also used on factory farms to help decrease the parasite load in food animals.
The FDA has said that BPA, a chemical found in certain plastics, is safe. BPA has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and liver inflammation.
The FDA measured and reported benzene levels in sodas and found that more than 60% of the beverages were contaminated.
The FDA refuses to ban cochineal beetle extract, made from crushed bugs, which is used as a red dye in food; it has, however, required it to be listed in the ingredients.
Aspartame has been found by some to be so harmful that they are petitioning the FDA to have it pulled from the market.
Topic summary contributed by Denise
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Mad Fish DiseaseResearchers raise concerns about the feeding of cow brains to farmed fish.
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Drug Residues in MeatThe U.S. Inspector General cites the USDA for failing to safeguard the meat supply from drug residues.
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Update on Alfalfa SproutsRaw alfalfa sprouts continue to be associated with outbreaks of foodborne illness.
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Arsenic in ChickenThe poultry industry feeds their birds millions of pounds of arsenic-containing drugs every year.
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Which Plastics are Harmful?How to choose the "numbers" of plastic which are probably safest.
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Is Sodium Benzoate Harmful?When combined with ascorbic acid in soda, sodium benzoate can form the potent carcinogen benzene
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Are Artificial Colors Harmful?The potential health effects of colorings such as cochineal, a food dye derived from crushed insects.
