Good Evening, Cagsil. You provide another interesting topic for conversation. Thanks.
I often see accusations in the form of a question when there is very little or no evidence to support them. Your link leads to an article on Naturalnews.com that merely says the FDA admitted that chicken meat sold in the USA contains arsenic. I am surprised that the article does not support the title of the OP statement about corruption and protectionism at the FDA. Furthermore, I am shocked to learn the statement about the FDA "finally admits yet again it's actions have been killing people" is both false and absurd. Since none of these issues are even mentioned in the article, someone must have fabricated them to make some point. The article does not even mention the arsenic levels typically found in chicken meat so it is impossible to weigh the risks, if there are any!
Sources who do not earn a living from ads promoting or selling potions, herbs, or roots present a more balanced and rational picture:
1. Are there health risks associated with arsenic?
The Department of Health in the State of Minnesota notes, "Most people consume about 6 micrograms of inorganic arsenic per day from food and water…very small amounts are not likely to be harmful… As the level of arsenic increases, however, there is some slight increase in the likelihood of chronic health effects from contact over many years. This could include a very small increase in the risk of cancer, and cardiovascular disease. These diseases are widespread, have many risk factors and take many years to develop - - so the part that environmental exposure to arsenic plays in the risk of disease is generally quite small. The EPA has set a limit of 0.01 parts per million (ppm) for arsenic in drinking water." (Italics added to original) (1)
2. What does "risk of cancer" mean?
In the Glossary of Terms published by The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, cancer risk is defined as a theoretical risk for getting cancer if exposed to a substance every day for 70 years (a lifetime exposure). The true risk might be lower. (2)
3. What is the causal relationship between arsenic and cancer?
A paper published through the World Health Organization reports the evidence is "weak" for most forms of cancer. "Conclusions on the causality of the relationship between arsenic exposure and other health effects are less clear-cut. The evidence is strongest for hypertension and cardiovascular disease, suggestive for diabetes and reproductive effects and weak for cerebrovascular disease, long-term neurological effects, and cancer at sites other than lung, bladder, kidney and skin." (3)
4. Are there any benefits from arsenic?
One BBC report on arsenic poisoning confirms "Small doses of arsenic have been shown to send some forms of cancer into remission, and it can also help thin blood." (4)
Mike Adams, the author of your article, calls himself the "Health Ranger" and proclaims himself an "expert" on health. He is an outspoken basher of the FDA with no credentials in science, health, or nutrition. But, he justifies his reputation as a fringe guru with this excerpt from the article: "What's astonishing about all this is that the FDA tells consumers it's safe to eat cancer-causing arsenic but it's dangerous to drink elderberry juice! The FDA recently conducted an armed raid in an elderberry juice manufacturer, accusing it of the "crime" of selling "unapproved drugs." (http://www.naturalnews.com/032631_elder … _raid.html) Which drugs would those be? The elderberry juice, explains the FDA. You see, the elderberry juice magically becomes a "drug" if you tell people how it can help support good health." Mr. Adams sympathizes with the poor juice distributor and neglects to mention the FDA complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Kansas accusing Wyldewood Cellars of advertising their "elderberry juice concentrate cures, treats, or prevents various disease conditions, including AIDS, diabetes and flu." (5)
With all the fact-based criticism available, it seems unnecessary to use false statements and an Internet charlatan to bash the FDA.
Thanks again, Cags, for an interesting thread.
(1) http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/h … senic.html
(2) http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/glossary.html#G-A-
(3) http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc224.htm#1.7
(4) http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_he … ning.shtml
(5) http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases … 12293.html
