Feingold Association would like parents to call Candy Companies

[Caryn]

Hi everybody,

I usually post in the Tics and Tourettes section. I am a member of the Feingold Organization and we just received an email asking for nationwide help convincing candy manufacturers to take artificial colors and preservatives out of our kids' candy here in the States.

 

There is a new study that was released last month in Southampton proving that sodium benzoate and azo dyes make ALL kids hyper, not just kids "predisposed" to ADHD.

I have written about the study on my blog at: http://healthy-family.org/caryn/231 if anyone is interested in the specifics.

Our Feingold representative has told us that in England they are removing these synthetic dyes and preservatives because the people are demanding it (not because of the law).

We would like to see the same in the States.

Here is the contact info:

 

from Shula Edelkind:

"Last month a study published in England announced that a mixture of

colorings and sodium benzoate affected the attention of normal children,

pushing them about 10% toward the hyperactive end of the scale. In

response, as I wrote in September's enewsletter, major supermarkets in

England have been removing the synthetic colorings, flavorings, and

preservatives from their store brands. Some of the big candy manufacturers,

including Mars and Cadbury (Hershey) have also promised to do so. I

suggested that we as consumers can call to ask these companies to take those

additives out of the candy in America too.

 

 

 

The first time I called each of the candy companies, they had no clue; they

had never heard of the British study, and didn't know what to tell me.

Apparently, thanks to all of you calling, their customer service

representatives have been briefed on how to answer. If you feel you were

not treated well when you called, or if you got answers similar to the ones

I got (below) go ahead - try again. This time you will be ready.

 

The second time I called Mars, a well-prepared gentleman told me that the

company has no plans to change their candy in the US. They were only doing

it in the UK because they are being forced by the government. I told him

that no, the government was allowing the manufacturers to make their own

choices, and were not mandating the change - it is the people who were

asking for the change.

 

Then he said that in the US they are going by FDA guidelines that said that

the colorings are still safe, and that anyway the study was "inconclusive."

I said that it was considered conclusive enough for them to change the candy

composition in the UK, and weren't American children worth the same

consideration?

 

He said that many of the additives tested are not even used in the US. I

read him the names ... yellow #5, #6, red #40 are all used in foods here, as

well as sodium benzoate.

 

He said that the study was not real strong because they were using a mixture

and the results were "weak." I said that they used a mixture because that

is what the kids got in their food - a mixture, and of course the results

did not show that the mixture made the kids hyperactive -- it was not

intended to do so. If the kids had been sensitive enough to become

diagnosed as hyperactive from the little bit of coloring given them, they

would have already had that diagnosis. Rather, the study showed that the

additives measurably damaged the attention ability of normal kids, so

actually that was a very important study. After all, it's not an all or

nothing situation -- there is a continuum of sensitivity to additives.

 

When he could find his tongue, he told me that it was not an absolute

decision, and they are still considering options. I told him I would like

my comment to be registered, as a mom of children who like candy, and who

prefer their candy not to have artificial colorings - and after all, there

are so many good natural colorings available now. He took my name and zip

code.

 

Guess what -- a few days later, I received a coupon for $3 for candy. I

wonder what I can do with that?

 

For those of you who have not yet called, and for those of you who wish to

try again, here is the contact info:

 

MARS: (M&M, Milky Way, Snickers, Twix, Starburst.....)

Mars, Inc. Corporate, in VA

hours: 8:30 - 5 Eastern Time

1-703-821-4900

1-800-551-0702

1-703-448-9678 FAX

 

CADBURY: Chocolates

made by Hershey's in the US:

hours: 9 - 4 Eastern Time

1-800-468-1714"

 

I apologize for such a long post!

Caryn