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eHealthy Living
eHealthy Living
Science Literacy and the changing evidence of harm in the food context
Related to this project: Food4Health

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Liz brings up a great point and highlights the massive disconnect between the public's knowledge of labeling -- what it means, what it stands for, and what the potential health implications are of these representations.

This morning's Globe and Mail (a newspaper here in Canada for those reading this abroad) has two articles that point to the issue that Liz's email presents and that is of labeling and the public's awareness of what that means.

The lead article points to a concerning issue around Blasphenol A being found in 80% canned drinks -- including pop and energy drinks. These are beverages that are consumed largely by youth and young adults. In this case, the issue is one of NOT labeling. Indeed, the report does mention that the Blasphenol A levels are below what have been identified as problematic such as what is found in many of the water bottles that were recently removed from store shelves, but still, it's there in sufficient quantities to pose some questions about potential long-term exposure for drinkers of canned beverages. Could we see a day when such drinks carry labels? And if so, who might do that? In Canada, we don't have a regulatory framework that supports labeling of most consumer food products for content like Blasphenol A. Not yet at least.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090304.wbpacans0305/BNStory/National/home

Andre Picard, points to a different direction, and that is of the need to enhance the scientific literacy of the public and the problems that come from the public not having the ability to properly distinguish content that has evidence in support of it and that which is promoted by groups or individuals who have an agenda that is not based on evidence.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090305.wlpicard05/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth

The Blasphenol A issue is one that poses our first challenge: What is the evidence that this chemical, in the concentrations and combinations found in pop cans, is harmful? Would labeling be useful here and, as Liz illustrates, who would do such labeling if it was done and could it be trusted?

What are some specific ideas that might help us navigate through this conundrum?

March 5, 2009 | 10:40 AM Comments  0 comments

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