Unfortunately, the new bill leaves standing the application of the Delaney clause's zero-risk standard to food additives, which still must pass this scientifically insupportable threshold. These natural carcinogens, by and large, have been shown to cause cancer only in very high doses given over a lifetime to lab animals. The same is true of the majority of the food additives now considered to be carcinogenic. Something is wrong with this picture. The American Council on Science and Health strongly endorses the progress Congress has made thus far in removing pesticides from the purview of Delaney, and ACSH urges Congress to continue to apply common sense and scientific reasoning to our food-protection programs.
Foods abound in natural chemicals that are toxic or potentially toxic.
Potatoes contain solanine, arsenic and chalonine. Carrots contain caratatoxin, a nerve poison. And nutmeg, black pepper and carrots all contain the hallucinogenic compound myristicin. Moreover, all chemicals, whether natural or synthetic, are potential toxins at high doses but perfectly safe when consumed in low doses. Selenium, a mineral essential in the human diet, can cause nausea and nerve changes when chronically consumed in excess.