Popcorn and Teflon

[Jack]

A chemical made by DuPont and used in their Teflon products is under investigation. Called PFOA, the chemical was approved by the federal government 38 years ago for coating the packaging of a wide range of food products to prevent grease stains. "Nobody likes to see a popcorn bag with grease that's penetrating through. It looks like it's old and greasy and grimy," says Glen Evers, a former DuPont senior engineer. Evers tells ABC News DuPont tried to hide the fact that the chemical coating comes off and ends up in humans in far greater concentrations than originally thought. In addition, scientific surveys have found the Teflon chemical, which is linked to organ damage and cancer in lab animals, is now in the blood of virtually every American. The chemical then stays in the blood, a fact that was unknown when the chemical was first approved. "It bioaccumulates, which means the chemical goes into the blood, and it stays there for a very long period of time," said Evers. A DuPont memo from 1987, obtained by the Environmental Working Group, reveals test results that show the chemical was coming off at three times the amount DuPont first thought it would. "They never notified the FDA. They never said to the FDA, 'We're stopping our production of this product until we figure out what the problem is,'" Evers said. DuPont is already under criminal investigation for failing to notify the government that the chemical might have been linked to birth defects of children born to plant workers in West Virginia. Until the government completes its investigation into the chemical's safety in humans, which could take years, the FDA is sticking with its ruling of 38 years ago that the chemical is safe to use in food packaging.

Source

From the same fine folks who brought us napalm.

Seriously, how many things like this exist? Additives, coatings, colorings; things we consume every day assuming they're safe, only to find out years later that they've invaded our cell structure and may be causing all kinds of disease and deformity.

Is there a solution to this problem or are we so far along this road that we can't turn back?

[Son of Belial]

I've thought of this myself, and I think unless you grow your own food, you're pretty much fubarred.

[Jack]

I think that's the secret behind our extended lifetimes (post flood, of course. 700 years old?!? Wow.)

Preservatives.

We ingested and inhaled so many different chemicals in our lives that our cell structure is coated with waxes and preservatives. It can't break down naturally anymore.

Aren't you glad I don't work in the health services?

[Boetie]

We are just guinea pigs. There's no telling what is going on and what the long term effects are. One good guess is that whatever the effects it's not good.

[Walmas]

well if it preserves the food it might preserve you. After you die your corpse will last longer. ITs true.

[Son of Belial]

Sounds like an idiotic theory, but okay.

[Walmas]

Yeah well it makes sense. If you eat crap thats supposed to preserve stuff it will take your corpse longer to rot. You should know this. The egyptians did this. Execpt it was after the person was dead.

[CoffeeSaint]

It all depends on what you mean by "preserve." I've seen Egyptian mummies; that don't look like me.

As ffor the chemicals in our bloodstream, I do not believe we have made it worse. 200 years ago, people were dying of lead and mercury poisoning, and had been since the Romans used lead to line their aqueducts. If you start thinking about sanitation, I don't want to even imagine what most people smeared onto their food from their hands, 500 years ago.

We eat nasty things, we inhale nasty things. The things change, but the situation doesn't. Don't worry about it, Ish; those smokes will surely kill any other chemical inhabitant of your lungs.

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: Isherwood From the same fine folks who brought us napalm. Seriously, how many things like this exist? Additives, coatings, colorings; things we consume every day assuming they're safe, only to find out years later that they've invaded our cell structure and may be causing all kinds of disease and deformity. Is there a solution to this problem or are we so far along this road that we can't turn back?

All I can say is yikes.


I'm sure this is far more common that people realize.


Sadly, I am a big fan of the microwave popcorn, so I presumably ingested at least my fair share.


Damn, first the "Fat Free" yogurt, and now the "hurry up life is too short, I need immediate gratification popcorn" has to go as well.

[tman_ndsu08]

Quote by: Isherwood From the same fine folks who brought us napalm. Seriously, how many things like this exist? Additives, coatings, colorings; things we consume every day assuming they're safe, only to find out years later that they've invaded our cell structure and may be causing all kinds of disease and deformity. Is there a solution to this problem or are we so far along this road that we can't turn back?

First of all, why does the word "chemicals" cause such a knee jerk reaction?

Water, sugar, protein, air....all are chemicals. Does that mean that we shouldn't ingest those?

Did you know that ingesting too much water will kill you? I guess I should stop!



People demanded that these things be invented so they were. People didn't say "oh and by the way make sure this stuff doesn kill me!". They wanted an affect at the cheapest price and this is what they got. Whose fault is that?

[Walmas]

Do you think before you buy popcorn Tman. Do you think oh my god this stuff could kill me or do you think i need this before that movie starts. I think its asking alot of people to think of the effects of every purchase.

[ghost_stalker]

After a couple of generations we will build up a natural immunity to the ill effects of these chemicals. Also our medical technology if it keeps advancicing at the current rate will be able to lessen or take away the ill effects of such products. So they might effect a couple of generations but no more than that.

[oranged]

When an organization has the goal of profit, it can not be trusted with our health. This is another of capitolisms failings.

[Capitalist Pig]

Quote by: oranged When an organization has the goal of profit, it can not be trusted with our health. This is another of capitolisms failings.

Until Company X receives bad press about it or their competition, Company Y, takes full advantage of any scientific studies which suggest the use of Company X's product(s) can be bad for your health and people begin buying a lot more of Company Y's product(s). Which means Company X must either shape up or risk losing market share until it flat out goes out of business. Also included in the number of eventualities are lawsuits.

Edit: Also, you act as if DuPont knew about this before it happened.

[tman_ndsu08]

Quote by: Capitalist Pig Edit: Also, you act as if DuPont knew about this before it happened.

Regardless, DuPont is sure to be paying out big bucks for this mistake.


Plenty of incentive for any capitalist company to NOT make these kinds of mistakes!

[PatrickHenry]

Well, EPA let them off the hook in 2004 under Big Brother Bush: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFOA

In 2004, DuPont came under investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for allegedly covering up knowledge of possible health effects of PFOA exposure in a study of pregnant employees, including evidence of PFOA in umbilical cord blood. The alleged violation might have resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in fines, but in early 2005, the EPA agreed with DuPont that nothing illegal had taken place.

Can't have Dupont being fined with a Republican in the Oval Office now can we?

[Osborn F Enready]

Pat Henry said:
Can't have Dupont being fined with a Republican in the Oval Office now can we?

I say:


Walmas said:
I think its asking alot of people to think of the effects of every purchase.

I say:
Do I feel a shift of personal responsibility for one's actions?

The assumed safety you have that you speak of, is part of the problem with agencies like the FDA, and other agencies created by government. People more often than not, ASSUME what they pick up off a shelf can't hurt them, no matter how much they abuse or exaggerate the serving size, use, or application of the product. They expect to be safe to the level of idiocy, to the point where manufacturers are REQUIRED to put a label on a cigarette "LIGHTER" that states the product contains flammable gas under pressure, that when emitter or broken can and will PRODUCE FLAME.

This mentality that you speak of, is one of the biggest downfalls of our nation. We expect luxury without knowledge, luxury without work. We have brought up generations on social norms that are destructive to society, and the individual.

*In private, people tell their kids they are the best, they are special, they don't have to suffer through lifes nuisances, ignore what others say, losers are still winners.
*In reality we are to be treated equally in the eyes of the law, there are plenty of life's nuisances to suffer through, ignoring what others say leads to dire consequences most times, and losers are in all actuality losers. Ignorance is not bliss, nor is ignorance of the law excusable. You want things in life, you earn them, you don't stick your damn hand out. Only you are responsible for your decisions, at all times, both in everyday life, and in the end.

Hell, mandatory labelling has long been a requirement for food contents, and most people are either too stupid, too dependent on the F.D.A. for their safety, or to ambivalent to care when they perform the action knowing they can and will sue later for any ill results.

While I agree that there should be standards, and a level of enforcement, what we have now is ridiculous, and the false sense of security has been being proven absolutely detrimental to health in all ways.

People must accept their responsibility for themselves, or they will again learn the hard way that stong central government leads to nothing but tyranny and despotism, and the blood of many honorable men, women and children who refuse to accept those shackles.

Oranged said:
When an organization has the goal of profit, it can not be trusted with our health. This is another of capitolisms failings.

I say:
I disagree. This was not a failing of capitalism, it was a failing of adequate public control over representatives, and the power of incorporation, being specified in the Constitution.

One of the U.S. Constitutions FEW shortcomings I might add.

On the original topic, I feel we are killing ourselves slowly everyday from things we should know about, but don't. People think cigarettes are so bad, but if they knew the damage they were doing to themselves everyday from things like toilet cleaner to the preservatives on their food, they would have a bit different outlook I believe, especially concerning the need and purpose of the F.D.A.