29 August 2005

Your Favorite Fastfood and Snack Sued!


More attacks on your French fries and favorite potato chips.

This time it concerns acrylamide, a chemical known to cause cancer in the reproductive organs of laboratory animals when exposed to high doses. It wasn't noticed until 2002, when scientists in Sweden discovered that acrylamide appeared in starchy foods when cooked at high temperatures.

Oh, boy.

California Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer, the one who filed the suit, wants all those concerned fastfood restos and potato chip makers to provide the public with "clear and reasonable" warnings before exposing them to potentially dangerous substances.
FAST-FOOD chains including McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC are to be sued by the state of California for not warning consumers about a potentially cancer-causing agent produced when potatoes are deep fried.

The lawsuit is the first of its kind in the world and could result in health warnings on French fries, or at least on the walls of restaurants.

It says that nine defendants, including H J Heinz, which makes Ore-Ida frozen chips; Procter & Gamble, which makes Pringles crisps; and Kettle Foods, creator of Kettle chips, are violating California’s Proposition 65, which requires warnings when consumers are exposed to known carcinogens.

"I am not telling people to stop eating potato chips and French fries," said Bill Lockyer, the California Attorney-General. "But I and all consumers should have the information we need to make informed decisions about the food we eat."

The agent is acrylamide, traces of which can also be found in breakfast cereals, breads, olives, asparagus, coffee and even prune juice. Mr Lockyer is seeking labelling only of potato products.

[ TIMES Online, Aug 29 2005 ]


This reminds me of my C2 post on my reviews weblog. I've always believed that the public should be informed of all the ingredients of any particular food product before they even buy or eat it.

Making an informed choice is better than believing all those food commercials we see and hear everyday.

7 reactions:

ting-aling said...

Ummppphhh..that's scary..what's more scary is I eat them once in a while.

Dr. Emer said...

Perhaps 'once-in-a-while' is ok, Ting. ;)

Anonymous said...

I have already suspected this thing about the French fries for some time now. I probably eat them once or twice a year.

But it is high time the consumers get to know exactly what they eat and let them decide if they still want to continue eating them! I am all for informed choices.

Rygel said...

Something that tastes soooo good always comes at a price!

Dr. Emer said...

That's good, Bayi. The high temperature of deep frying produces harmful chemicals from potatoes.

You said it, Rygel.

Anonymous said...

I guess, I should limit my intake of that fries. I'm too addicted to french fries that I never forget to order that in mcdo or jollibee. Thanks for the info doc.

Off-topic...I'm glad that I visit your blog doc.

Dr. Emer said...

Hello, Albert. Thanks for the visit.

California's Attorney-General acknowledged that fact himself. He said potato chips and French fries really do taste good. I myself agree! 'Must be the fat in them that makes them so yummmy. ;)