BREAKING NEWS (old)

Archived 11/04/2008

Thursday, 21 February at 6.00pm - An evening with Sue Dengate at Muffledux bookstore in Sydney. This event is free but booking essential: info@muffledux.com.au ph  (02) 9664 9644, 211 Clovelly Road, Clovelly, NSW, http://www.muffledux.com.au/content/view/24/60/

In the UK there is great consumer action on banning food colours - http://www.actiononadditives.com/.

30/01/2008 New factsheet: Joint pain, arthritis and diet

Archived 15/02/2008

31/01/2008 All artificial colourings in food and soft drinks should be banned, according to a UK parliamentary committee researching the effect of diet on the brain: “the Food Standards Agency should be taking a tougher line on E-numbers and additives, which some studies suggest may over-stimulate children's brains and make them hyperactive.” And in Australia and New Zealand? The usual silence from those who claim to protect us. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jan/31/health.foodanddrink1

**WARNING** 29/01/2008 Consumers have been warned to moderate their intake of vegetable chips and crackers made from cassava after tests revealed questionable levels of naturally occurring cyanide. Cassava can be harmful when consumed in large quantities, particularly by small children. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, dizziness, headaches, stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhoea, while mental confusion, twitching and convulsions can occur in severe cases. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=285528

17/12/2007 Food additives making our kids sick http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22933523-5014717,00.html

13/12/2007 The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has put together a special working group to provide EU members with scientific advice on the effects of food additives on behaviour by the end of February. The move follows publication of a study conducted by the University of Southampton which suggested a link between mixtures of certain food colours and the preservative sodium benzoate and hyperactivity in children. More details at http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/printNewsBis.asp?id=82028

6/12/07 Still no action from FSANZ, the Australian and New Zealand food regulators, on the University of Southampton results published in the Lancet in September 2007. In the UK their Food Standards Authority is driving industry and industry has responded, but in Australia and NZ the silence we have come to expect. Here’s the Food Commission website doing something about it in the UK: www.actiononadditives.com

Latest Failsafe Newsletter # 54 October – December 2007 now available, featuring the Australian federal election and the new International Registry of Food Additive Reactions (IRFAR).

Archived 14/12/2007

5/12/2007 - Di-isobutylphthalate, a packaging chemical with potentially toxic health effects, is showing up at alarmingly high rates in foods such as rice and baking mixtures, according to a report issued today by Germany's risk assessment agency. The report serves as a warning to food companies that they might have to repackage their products to avoid potential liability exposure due to the migration of the chemical into their products…. http://foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=81555 

10/11/2007 Many thanks to Tina, Suzie and Monica for organising a talk for 250 people in Forster and to Ann for 100 people in Maitland. Very responsive audiences in both places who are wondering why authorities in Australia have yet to act on the Lancet study below.

Archived 22/11/2007

27/9/2007 You can now see the Lancet study talked about below for free at http://www.precaution.org/lib/food_additives_and_hyperactivity.070906.pdf. As a toxicologist blogger has just said “It's nice to a see a good study every once in a while and after about 30 years of debating whether preservatives cause hyperactivity/attention deficit. … as expected for any toxicant, some kids were strongly effected and some were not. It's real, though.. [now] for the FDA to get on the stick and re-evaluate these compounds. Why didn't they fund a study like this decades ago? They should have and (again) really feel down on the job. Seriously, can't they do anything right on food?” http://scienceblogs.com/angrytoxicologist/2007/09/some_definitive_bad_news_about.php.

Some manufacturers are rushing to remove artificial butter flavour from microwaveable popcorn since the finding that popcorn workers lung, an incurable and sometimes fatal lung condition, can also affect consumers, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/us/05popcorn.html.

21/09/2007 - FSA 'astonished' by slow industry action on additives: The UK's Food Standards Authority has issued its harshest judgement on the food industry's use of artificial colour and preservatives yet, following the publication of the Southampton study at the beginning of the month, and is calling for action on labelling as well as reformulation…. http://foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=79969.

 

18/9/2007 Confusing FSANZ responses to food additive issue - Hyperactivity study: lawyers warn that regardless of whether food additives are approved by FSANZ, food companies could be liable should it transpire that there is any long-term harm resulting from the use of a harmful food additive, see, Foodlegal Bulletin Sept 2007, http://www.foodlegal.com.au/db/sep07_1/fsanz_responses_to_food_additives

 

13/9/2007 Food Intolerance Network media release: “Time for action on kids and food colours” plus further media resources and comment on FSANZ factsheet on “Effects of artificial colours on children’s behaviour”.

 

Could the E-number be up? - the European Food Safety Authority's review of additive safety could have a bigger effect on the ingredients industry than the ejection of certain colours and flavours with a suspect safety record. It could give the natural ingredients trend an extra push, and possibly prove the death-knell for the ne'er loved E number system….The anti-additives movement is already active at market level. It makes little sense for the industry to wait on legislation. It needs to start second-guessing the ramifications now if it wants its ingredients to be invited to the party again. http://confectionerynews.com/news/ng.asp?id=78387.

 

06/09/2007 - Nestle goes all-natural over kids' chocolate - UK based Nestle Rowntree has re-launched its Milkybar brand with all-natural ingredients, taking advantage of current concern for food additives. http://confectionerynews.com/news/ng.asp?id=79557.

 

13/9/2007 Confectionery giants cut use of artificial additives - In the wake of a damning scientific report on the health effects of artificial additives, Cadbury Trebor Bassett and Mars UK today said they are cutting the chemicals from their products http://foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=79751.

 

12/9/2007 Prince Charles: Children are being poisoned by food additives - Prince Charles has issued a clarion call for society to stop a generation of "over-industrialised" children poisoning themselves with food additives. Echoing the Daily Mail's campaign to ban potentially harmful food colourings and preservatives from the food chain, the heir to the throne described the situation as "terrifying" and blamed the plague of anti-social behaviour on the eating habits of young people. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=481422&in_page_id=1770.

 

6/9/2007 Food Intolerance Network media release: “Food additives again shown to worsen children’s behaviour – when will regulators act? asks Network”.

 

4/9/2007 Watchdog warns of E numbers that make children misbehave - Parents in the UK will be alerted this week to ensure children avoid artificial additives in drinks, sweets and processed foods because of explosive evidence about the effects on behaviour. A plausible connection to tantrums, poor concentration and slow progress at school is understood to have been found in a government funded study from Southampton University. Food industry leaders have been summoned to a meeting with the Food Standards Agency for a briefing on the research and its implications. The study findings raise the possibility of parents suing food manufacturers in the same way tobacco firms have been pursued by cancer victims in the U.S, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=479768&in_page_id=1770.

 

New and updated Factsheets:

Tics, tic disorder, Tourette symptoms

Failsafe gardening

 

Formaldehyde in clothes: CORRECTION issued 4/9/2007 - NZ TV bungled formaldehyde tests on Chinese clothes – in fact negligible amounts were found http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/04/2023143.htm formaldehyde in clothes at 20 ppm (parts per million), the chemical formaldehyde used in bedding and clothes can induce rashes, headaches, dizziness, joint pain, fatigue, asthma and in the extreme case, cancer.  Already discovered at well over safe limits in blankets from China, it has now been found at levels up to 18,000 ppm in clothing from China and we are receiving reports of rashes in adults as well as children, see http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/40502/consumer/formaldehyde-clothes

23/8/2007 Failsafe Newsletter July – September #53 is now out.

 

Archived 17/9/2007

 

Donations in July 2007: Thanks to a Melbourne mother, who asked that her family donate money to the FIN, instead of giving her 40th birthday presents. "I can think of no better gift than that our food supply becomes safer, making life easier (and happier) for us all. I know that my family are pretty happy with what the Food Intolerance Network has done for me!"  - so thanks to Molly & Tony (Mum & Dad) for $50, and to Sue, Stephen and the girls for $50.00, and to Louise and Stephen at the Caring for You Nursing Agency for $500.00.

 

TALKS: "Fed Up with Children's Behaviour" presentation by Jenny Ravlic and Kathleen Daalmeyer of Additive Education 14th August Glen Waverley VIC, Tuesday 28th August Boronia VIC, Monday 22nd October Pakenham VIC. Details.

 

Archived 23/8/2007

 

Failsafe sausages rule OK! 24/7/07 Chicken failsafe sausages were entered in the Sausage King Competition in South Australia and came third in the region (from Bordertown down to the lower south east of South Australia). “It goes to show the sausage is up there healthy and competitive.” – thanks Tracey.

 

New factsheet: Hayfever and allergic rhinitis – hints for managing the spring.

New symptom discussion paper: Pervasive Development Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)

 

Food Intolerance brochure now available in French, USA and Nepali. More languages coming soon thanks to Food Intolerance Network members.

 

YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO LET MCDONALD’S KNOW WHAT YOU THINK McDonald’s has requested a meeting with The Parents Jury to discuss their children’s food menu and marketing to children practices. The Jury wants to truly represent parents when they meet with McDonald’s, so please email them your views and concerns and they will ensure that they are raised. Email members@parentsjury.org.au. We will let you know the outcomes of this meeting in due course. http://www.parentsjury.org.au/

 

9/7/2007: Thanks for Brumby’s Bakeries for their support in getting wider distribution of the DVD “Fed Up with Children’s Behaviour”. This promotion has now ended but posted vouchers will continue to be honoured for two weeks.

 

June 2007: The Failsafe Cookbook and Fed Up with Children’s Behaviour DVD are now available in Singapore. Email Jacky at jacky@kidsforlife.com.sg

 

June 2007: ALL Britain's major supermarkets, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Asda and Tesco, are banning potentially dangerous additives from the majority of their own-brand products. When will it happen in Australia and New Zealand? http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/food/story/0,,2095617,00.html 

 

Archived 1/8/2007

 

15/5/2007 Marks & Spencer announces it is removing artificial colours and flavourings from 99% of all the foods on sale in M&S stores by the end of 2007. And by June all the foods on sale in M&S stores will be 100% free from Aspartame.  This follows an earlier commitment to remove hydrogenated oil from their own-brand products by early 2007, which also claimed that hydrogenated oil has already been removed from all their ready meals.

http://www.flexnews.com/pages/8837/Additive/UK/marks_spencer_continues_assault_additives.html

 

Mum’s Own: Failsafe Newsletter #52 contained a paragraph about the Mum’s Own company which may have been misleading. Many of the foods, most of the Ingredients and some Other Products on the Mum’s Own website are failsafe. However I believed incorrectly that none of the 11 cakes, loaves and muffins that claimed at that time to be “low salicylate” were failsafe because they appeared to contain one or more moderate salicylate ingredients (cold-pressed sunflower oil, raw sugar, and/or apples) based on the Mum’s Own ingredients list at the time the Newsletter was published. I have since found out that many of these products are failsafe and they are the ones marked "low in salicylates and amines". Mum’s Own have said they are happy to talk to customers about making those unmarked products failsafe if you want.  They will also cook on request according to your own recipes: www.mumsown.com.au. I apologise unreservedly for this mistake. MUMS OWN are in the process of changing their name and will now be known as  "HAPPY TUMS".  Sue Dengate.

 

Donations in May 2007: Thanks to an anonymous mother from NSW for $300.00 towards brochures, who said “I hope this donation can be used in some way to inspire others ..to continue the awareness fight for so many children and parents”, and also to Mr & Mrs Ussery of Vermont, USA for $US200 to assist us in Network efforts.

 

Archived 28/6/2007

 

27/5/2007 New fear with benzoates: a preservative commonly consumed by children may be associated with serious cell damage and fatal illness, according to a new UK study.  Research indicates that sodium benzoate, an ingredient in many soft drinks, cordials, toppings, syrups, sauces and children's medications, has the ability to deactivate parts of DNA and eventually cause diseases such as Parkinson's and cirrhosis of the liver. Researcher Professor Peter Piper at Sheffield University advised parents to think twice about letting their children drink products containing the chemical. "My concern is for children who are drinking large amounts," he said. http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article2586652.ece    http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article2586653.ece

 

Product Warning: Mountain bread - avoid any products with a small white '282 preservative' sticker - please email sales@mountainbread.com to tell them how you feel about preservative 282. You need to do this before the end of June 2007.

 

15/5/2007 UK supermarket chain Asda is to remove all artificial colours and flavours from its own-brand food and drinks by 2008. The announcement comes after a warning from researchers at the University of Southampton regarding the effect of additives on children's behaviour, and will cover 9,000 food and drink products. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/business/6657757.stm

 

8/5/2007 Food safety experts in the UK have advised parents to eliminate a series of additives from their children's diet while they await the publication of a new study that is understood to link these ingredients to behaviour problems in youngsters. The colours, tested on both three-year-olds and eight-to-nine year olds in the new study, are tartrazine (E102), ponceau 4R (E124), sunset yellow (E110), carmoisine (E122), quinoline yellow (E104) and allura red AC (E129). The preservative tested was sodium benzoate (E211). For more details see http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/Story/0,,2074346,00.html

 

Archived 11/6/2007

 

28/4/2007 Colvan plain chips have been deleted, apparently due to Coles/Woolworths policy of not stocking items that sell under a certain number. If this will affect you, or you are concerned about this reduction in our choices, please call Arnotts' Snack Foods on 1800 501 441 –they may reconsider!

 

The latest newsletter is Failsafe Newsletter April – June 2007 (Failsafe #52)

 

Sue spoke to over 1,450 people, including 80 school children, in Newcastle, Wodonga, Frankston, Warrnambool, Ballarat, Cooma, Canberra and Coffs Harbour during May. Thanks to the many organisers who put in so much effort and were so thoughtful, and to audiences for their enthusiastic responses.

 

9/4/2007 ONE MILLION HITS!! The Food Intolerance Network website has now received over one million page-visits. The interesting thing is that while most visitors are from Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, Canada and Japan, in the past three days there have also been visits from Turkey, Ghana, Iceland, Thailand, South Africa, Denmark and Singapore. Like the Western diet, this is truly an international problem.

 

New factsheet: Eating for Success (the Palmer’s Island program as seen on the DVD).

New symptom discussion: patchy baldness (alopecia areata) and the gluten connection

 

Archived 25/4/2007

 

New brochure on food intolerance, in Nepali. The start of a new Network initiative to have the brochure available in 30 languages by the end of 2007.

 

Sue Dengate will be giving seminars in Newcastle (Monday 30 April), Wodonga (Wednesday 2 May), Frankston (Thursday 3 May), Warrnambool (Monday 7 May), Ballarat (Tuesday 8 May), Cooma (Wednesday 9 May), Canberra (Thursday 10 May), and Coffs Harbour (Thursday 24 May). Details under Talks.

 

30/3/2007 Trans fat bill: Greens Senator Kerry Nettle this week introduced a private members bill into the Senate that will reduce Australia's exposure to unsafe synthetic trans fats which are added to fast foods such as chips, bakery products, biscuits, and doughnuts. Trans fats have been shown to be a significant contributor to coronary heart disease, which kills thousands of Australians each year. The bill will ban corporations from using trans fats and sets the standard that the States should follow. With the Howard Government relying on vague promises from industry for self-regulation, Kerry said "A ban is urgently required as the Coalition is seemingly more concerned about offending the food industry than protecting public health". Many overseas countries have already banned these fats. There’s more info on trans fats at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/mediareleases/mediareleases2007/12march2007honchrist3488.cfm

 

MEDIA RELEASE: Let’s halve the rate of asthma, says Network (Feb 2007)

 

Letter to FSANZ withdrawing application on Declaration of Antioxidants in Fats and Oils (Jan 2007)

 

Latest Newsletter: Failsafe Newsletter #51 January – March 2007

 

See updated asthma factsheets under Features – Asthma below.

 

Archived 28/1/2007

 

26/11/2006 New Newsletter out Failsafe50

 

Two new Factsheets:   Self-harm    Palpitations and heart issues

Updated Factsheets: School tuckshop support    Epilepsy    Added flavours: natural or artificial, what’s the difference?

New: Symptom discussion sheets have been introduced to summarise group discussion on particular symptoms. The first is Extreme sensitivity to noise - hyperacusis

 

Archived 8/11/2006

 

Food intolerance in the news!! See A Current Affair on Monday 2 October 7pm Channel 9 about food ingredients.  This follows on from salicylates on A Current Affair on 27 September, thanks to Sue and Bron.  There’s an excellent article in the 3 October Bulletin, thanks to network members Anne, Sue and Bron.  See also the October Australian Reader’s Digest on allergy and intolerance, and Food Navigator

http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?id=70189. 

 

Our Network’s 4,156 members are finally getting recognition and support for this issue.  As one mother said “I had my father-in-law ring up about [A Current Affair] as he argues with me a fair bit about the diet thing and believes that most kids with behaviour problems need a good smack up the bum to pull them into line!   I think he's changed his tune after seeing it on ACA, so thanks!”

 

Two new Factsheets:   Self-harm                                  Palpitations and heart issues

Updated Factsheets: School tuckshop support          Epilepsy

 

OCTOBER

 

Victor Harbor SA Tuesday 24th October 7 pm: Southern Fleurieu food intolerance information night. Port Elliot Uniting Church Hall, contact Mel Reid 08 8552 0600 reid.mel@saugov.sa.gov.au. There will be limited copies of the Failsafe Cookbook for sale!

 

16/9/2006 Nitrites in cured meat linked to lung disease People who regularly eat cured meats are 71 per cent more likely to have symptoms of lung disease than people who never eat this type of meat, says a new study from the US. http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?id=70484

 

Thanks to people in Bellingen and Lismore for organising talks by Sue. Over 200 people can now make better food choices.

 

18/8/2006 Labelling of antioxidants in fats and oils: Many Network members know how frustrating it is trying to find out whether synthetic antioxidants are in their food. Often the labels don’t declare them or are just plain wrong. The only way at present is to ring the manufacturer, who may or may not know, and may or may not tell you. We can change this situation: FSANZ have just released an initial assessment report, triggered by the Food Intolerance Network, which seeks to have all antioxidants in fats and oils declared on the label, irrespective of whether they are performing a technological function in the food in the view of food manufacturers. Please make a submission before 20 September!

 

Please post/email a submission: Here is a draft letter you can use: add your own health, behaviour and learning experiences, or the foods and labelling that that trip you up.

 

Or you can lodge a submission directly with FSANZ, even using the draft letter above: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/forms/index.cfm?fuseaction=Submission

 

Background material: Link to FSANZ document ; Link to Food Intolerance Network initial request (December 2004):

 

Archived 16/9/2006

 

WATCH OUT: Our Get Smarties campaign makes Channel 10 news – now Tuesday 5pm 15/8 (we hope)!

 

Sue will now be giving two local talks in September:

 

Bellingen NSW Tuesday 12 September 7.00-9.00pm: ‘Fed Up With Children’s Behaviour’ by Sue Dengate. Bellingen High School. $10 per person, all welcome. Sue’s new DVD will be available for sale $25 cash or cheque, plus limited copies of “Fed Up with Asthma” $20. Contact Jenny or Judy 02 6655 2323 Bellingen Family Day Care.

 

Lismore NSW Thursday 14 September 6.30-9.30pm: ‘Fed Up With Children’s Behaviour’ by Sue Dengate. Goonellabah RSL Sports Club, 202 Oliver Ave, Goonellabah. $10 single/couple, all welcome. Sue’s new DVD will be available for sale $25 cash or cheque. Contact Natasha at Lismore Family Daycare 02 6621 6437. or lismoredistrictfdc@bigpond.com

 

Archived 23/8/2006

 

9/8/2006 Additives do cause temper tantrums Parents have long suspected that artificial food colourings can affect their child's mood and behaviour. Now a government-funded study shows that parents were right all along. http://www.foodcomm.org.uk/parentsjury/add_2.htm

 

7/8/2006 New Factsheets on Amines, Salicylates, and Diet and ADHD.

 

1/8/2006 ***WARNING***  Kraft Extra Light Philadelphia cheese currently contain unlisted preservative 200 (sorbic acid). The issue is being addressed.

 

28/7/2006 US unions seek limit on butter flavor additive - unions representing food processing workers have asked government workplace safety regulators to limit exposure to an artificial butter flavoring additive. Diacetyl, a primary component of artificial butter flavor in popcorn and other foods, has caused bronchiolitis obliterans, or "popcorn workers lung," in dozens of workers. "There is compelling scientific evidence that diacetyl causes terrible lung disease," said David Michaels of George Washington University's School of Public Health. © Reuters 2006

 

24/7/2006 Sainsbury’s UK Supermarkets will phase out use of calcium propionate (282) in their Kids range by year’s end, as part of their re-defined brand standards which “include significantly tighter restrictions on the ingredients and additives which are permitted to be used in Sainsbury's food and drink”. The tide is turning.

 

Archived 8/8/2006

 

20/7/2006 Genetically modified Streets ice cream: In November 2005, FSANZ approved a genetically modified Ice Structuring Protein (ISP) as a Processing Aid for Ice Cream & Edible Ices. The manufacturer and patent holder, Unilever, undertook to voluntarily label products with ‘ice structuring protein’ where the processing aid has been used. Unilever also undertook to have information about ice structuring protein available to consumers on their website, but it doesn’t appear under “Streets”, “ISP”, “Ice structuring protein”, or any brand FAQs, so it’s well hidden if it exists.

 

Ice structuring protein type III HPLC 12 preparation is a protein excreted from the fermentation of a genetically modified yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to which a synthetic gene encoding for the protein has been inserted into the yeast’s genome.  Australian State authorities argued that the protein was an additive and should be listed in the ingredients but FSANZ ruled that the GM yeast was a "food processing aid" and not a food additive and therefore did not need to be listed. You may find it in Splices, Calippos and Paddle Pops if it is used yet in Australia/NZ.

 

Now, in the UK, A group of scientists has claimed that Unilever's genetically modified (GM) fish antifreeze protein for ice cream should not be approved without further comprehensive tests. http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=69108&m=2FSN719&idP=1&c=jzvifzfdcuywjqo

 

Free Melbourne diet study: there are now only a few places left in the study, children under 8 are especially welcome. Mickaela

 

20/7/2006 New Factsheet on Diet, sleep disturbance and insomnia plus updated stories from readers, particularly on 635 ribonucleotide flavour enhancers.

 

17/7/2006 Three new Nasty Food Awards from the dozens submitted – see below.

 

17/7/2006 New Factsheet on Eczema following lots of requests.

 

7/7/2006 New Factsheet on MSG due to considerable interest after Today Tonight interviews about flavour enhancers.

 

Today Tonight (Ch7) about flavour enhancer 635 (ribonucleotides) – keep an eye open after Tuesday 4/7!!

 

30 June 2006 Network Submission to NICNAS (National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme) towards their review “Promoting Safer Chemical Use: Towards better regulation of chemicals in Australia”.

 

Archived 20/7/2006

 

27/06/2006 - The steady accumulation of brominated and fluorinated chemicals in foods do not pose a health risk at this time a UK scientific panel says. That’s flame retardants in bedding, furniture, electronic equipment, and non-stick frypans in plain language – and it’s the “at this time” that bothers me! http://www.foodqualitynews.com/news/ng.asp?n=68696&m=2FQN628&c=jzvifzfdcuywjqo

 

“How we’re drowning our kids in preservatives” TODAY TONIGHT (Ch7) Monday 12/6 (Thanks Jenny R in Melbourne).

 

Fast food, the movie: MacDonalds UK debates on video with author Eric Schlosser of  “Fast Food Nation” (the film, premiered at Cannes!) and book “Chew on this” – see how the food industry fights dirty: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/debates/default.stm

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/booksellers/press_release/wilson/ 

 

Benzene in Australian soft drinks: finally a response from FSANZ.  Of 68 samples tested, 38 had benzene levels from 1-40 ppb, meaning that more than half had benzene levels above the Australian guideline for drinking water of 1ppb. Drink one litre, which is common enough, and you could be getting twenty times the daily dietary exposure to benzene which FSANZ reports:

http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/mediareleasespublications/factsheets/factsheets2006/benzeneinflavouredbe3244.cfm

 

05/06/2006 - Revisions to the EU's food additives and sweeteners legislation includes stricter requirements on the use of nitrites and nitrates in meat, approvals for seven new ingredients and extended use of sorbates and benzoates… http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?n=68160&m=2FPD608&c=jzvifzfdcuywjqo  

 

Archived 8/6/2006

 

A CURRENT AFFAIR (CH9) will talk about bread and freshness in the coming week (5/6-)

 

TODAY TONIGHT (CH7, 22/5) showed the Palmers Island trial from the DVD, where a whole NSW school of 120 pupils went additive-free for two weeks, to a strong national response.

 

TALKS - thanks to Jenny and Donna for organising 100 parents to come to the talk in South Grafton. And to Alison for organising the successful Narranga Primary School talk for 120 parents. Sue Dengate will not be giving any more talks this year - see the Talks button for alternatives or try the DVD.

 

Archived 3/6/2006

 

MAY 2006

 

Grafton NSW Thursday 25 May 7.00-9.00pm: ‘Fed Up With Children’s Behaviour’ by Sue Dengate. South Grafton Ex Serviceman's Club. All welcome: $10 or $15 for a couple. Sue’s new DVD will be available for sale $25 cash or cheque, plus “Fed Up with Asthma” $20. People can purchase tickets beforehand at Bookworld (Grafton Shopping World), Book Warehouse (Prince St), or Grafton Health Foods (Prince St). Contact Jenny Ryder,Crown Early Childhood Consultant, 02 6642 7990 crownecc@bigpond.net.au for more details.

 

Narranga (Coffs Harbour) NSW Wednesday 31 May 7.00-9.00pm: ‘Fed Up With Children’s Behaviour’ by Sue Dengate. Narranga Primary School, Robin St. $5 entry, all welcome. Sue’s new DVD will be available for sale $25 cash or cheque, plus “Fed Up with Asthma” $20. Contact Alison 0418 610569 for bookings.

 

Archived 23/5/2006

 

19/5/2006 BENZENE IN SOFT DRINKS Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) website currently seeks to reassure consumers, claiming that “benzene levels found overseas are well below the WHO limits for benzene in drinking water.” This is not correct. The WHO limit on benzene in drinking water is 10 ug/l or 10 ppb. The Australian limit for drinking water is 1 ppb. The levels of benzene found overseas in soft drinks have been 25-50 ppb (USA 15/2/06), >60ppb (South America 20/2/06), up to 28ppb (UK 31/3/06), up to 88 ppb (Korea 18/4/06). There have been soft drink withdrawals and lawsuits launched over this matter in several countries and it is up to FSANZ to at least be accurate, even if not willing to take the action needed to protect consumers.

 

12/5/2006 BRISBANE EXTRA (CH9) will report on Nestle’s withdrawal of artificial colours from UK Smarties – why not in Australia and New Zealand?

 

MAY 2006 TALKS

 

Grafton NSW Thursday 25 May 7.00-9.00pm: ‘Fed Up With Children’s Behaviour’ by Sue Dengate. South Grafton Ex Serviceman's Club. All welcome: $10 or $15 for a couple. Sue’s new DVD will be available for sale $25 cash or cheque, plus “Fed Up with Asthma” $20. People can purchase tickets beforehand at Bookworld (Grafton Shopping World), Book Warehouse (Pr