This was sent by a supporter. If the events were not so close to reality, the piece would be absurd. As it is, they could just as well be real: in fact, under different names they happen every day.
Silicon Crunch
API – Washington, D.C., June 1, 1999 …………….. by Mark D. Gold
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today that it will
approve the controversial new food additive, “Silicon Crunch.” Silicon
Crunch is a flavored filler made by combining artificial flavors with
finely ground, recycled glass bottles. The product was developed by the
Association of Chemical Food Manufacturers (ACFM) — a collaboration of 12
chemical chemical and food ingredient companies.
Dr. Arthur A. Morales, Vice President of Development for the inventor,
ACFM, hailed the decision as “proof that chemical company scientists can
literally make anything info food!” Dr. A. Morales went on to say that
“Silicon Crunch will change the way food is made. The versatility of this
product is amazing! It can be mixed with a variety of artificial
flavorings, colors, and sweeteners. The consistency of Silicon Crunch can
very easily be changed from crunchy to creamy by controlling the
pre-treatment of the glass food materials. We believe that this will be the
best-selling food additive in history!”
Dr. A. Morales responded to questions of concern about the safety of
Silicon Crunch by stating that “There will always be a hysterical few who
question the safety of an innovative new product. Today’s decision proves
that Silicon Crunch meets the FDA’s stringent safety requirements for food
additives.”
Officials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were elated
over the decision which they called “a victory for recycling.” Incoming
EPA Administrator, Dr. Morissa Green-Washington stated, “Recycling will
only work if there is a market for recycled products. The FDA’s decision
opens up the market for recycled glass. Our goal is to work with industry
to help create similar markets for other recycled products. We encourage
the development of new markets for other waste products by food and
chemical companies.” Several senior EPA scientists who spoke on the
condition of anonymity said that they do not share Dr. Green-Washington’s
views on this issue. One scientist summed up his viewpoint by stating,
“The approval of Silicon Crunch sets a significant precedent in that
Americans will now be eating recycled garbage. Even though it is
sterilized, I do not think it is appropriate.”
Considerable controversy could be seen at the FDA both before and after
the decision was announced by FDA Commissioner, Dr. Herbert D. Banner. Two
FDA scientists resigned in March claiming that the scientific review
process has been sidetracked by political and economic goals. FDA
Toxicologists Martin Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. and Elizabeth Shuller, Ph.D. held
a press conference yesterday in protest of what they allege was an
“inevitable decision without any scientific basis.” In a harsh criticism
of the FDA Commissioner, Dr. Shuller stated that there was never any
interest by FDA officials to look at the issue in a scientific way. She
went on to say that “Dr. Banner refused to even consider the extensive
documentation provided about the dangers of ingested glass! We were forced
to consider only the scientific documents on Silicon Crunch provided by
ACFM. The documentation provided by ACFM was ridiculous on the face of it,
yet there was no possibility of considering evidence challenging this
documentation given the rules we were forced to follow.” Dr. Fitzpatrick
added, “I believe that the whole process was motivated by money and that
the revolving door between drug and chemical companies and the FDA has
done irreparable harm to the credibility of the FDA.”
Commissioner Banner responded that “These two scientists were given every
opportunity to produce reputable scientific research that has shown that
ingesting heat-treated, finely-ground glass food material causes adverse
health effects. They were unable to produce any studies showing that
Silicon Crunch causes disease. The research they submitted showing serious
adverse effects from ingesting glass particles is simply not relevant
because those studies considered only normal ground bits of glass and not
specially heat-treatment Silicon Crunch. The important point is that the
majority of the FDA officials reviewing the product agreed that the
manufacturer has met its burden of proof that it is safe.”
“Silicon is already present in the body,” Commissioner Banner pointed out.
“It is in the tendons, cartilage, and blood vessels. And silicon is
already being ingested from plant fiber and hard water. The glass food
material in Silicon Crunch is simply another good source of silicon. There
is some evidence that as atherosclerosis develops, silicon levels decline
in the arteries. Adding Silicon Crunch to the diet may help prevent heart
disease!”
In response to the allegations of a “revolving door” at the FDA between
FDA officials and ACFM members, the Commissioner responded by saying,
“This whole issue of ‘revolving door’ has been grossly overblown. Firstly,
fewer FDA officials have left to work at ACFM member companies in this
calendar year than in previous years. Secondly, not all FDA officials
offered jobs by ACFM member companies have accepted those jobs. In fact, I
was offered such a job, but turned it down because I still have important
work to do as Commissioner of the FDA — namely, developing strategies to
keep herbs and supplements from stifling the development of legitimate
pharmaceuticals. Finally, former ACFM member company employees, who are
now FDA officials, have not been part of all of the critical aspects of
the decision-making process in the Silicon Crunch decision. These
‘conspiracy theories’ should not be taken seriously by the general
public.”
Commissioner Banner stated that the FDA took the cautious approach by
creating five strict requirements which must be met by the manufacturer
and other food companies using Silicon Crunch. The Commissioner provided
this official FDA summary of those requirements:
Three-layered filtration process must be installed to guarantee that no
large pieces of glass food particulates would ever be found in Silicon
Crunch. This size of these particulates are to be no more than 1/3 the
size that caused bleeding gums in animal research.
The Association of Chemical Food Manufacturers (ACFM) would be required to
monitor any unexpected adverse reactions.
ACFM would be required to design and fund research to provide continued
assurance of the safety of Silicon Crunch.
No dangerous products such as herbs or vitamins and minerals (above the
Recommended Daily Allowance) would be allowed in products which contain
Silicon Crunch.
Initially, no claims of medical benefit would be allowed on the label of
any food product which contains Silicon Crunch. However, claims such as
“Fat Free,” “Low Cholesterol,” and “Low Calorie” could be allowed for such
products. A petition to the FDA filed by ACFM for allowing a medical
claim, “Prevents Heart Disease” is currently being examined by FDA
scientists.
The food company members of ACFM are preparing to add Silicon Crunch to
many of their snack products. According to Dr. A. Morales of ACFM, “Our
goal is to get Silicon Crunch products on the shelves by late October to
coincide with the start of Halloween candy purchasing. American children
will be the first ones treated to this new wonder- product!” Dr. A.
Morales went on to say that ACFM plans to quickly obtain approval of
Silicon Crunch in other countries around the world that generally look to
the FDA to make a sound, scientific safety evaluation.
A written statement from the American Dietetic Association (ADA) pointed
out that they are still evaluating the situation. It went on to state that
the ADA will work closely with ACFM officials under a grant from that
organization to develop a workable Fact Sheet on the issue. In contrast, a
statement from the Association of Consumers for Nontoxic Food Choices
(ACNFC) claimed that the food industry has “spearheaded the destruction of
the scientific method and risk assessment for the last 25 years. This
included abuse of science and the politicizing of the approval and
evaluation process in the cases of aspartame, MSG, Olestra, acesulfame-k,
rBGH and many others. The approval of Silicon Crunch merely puts the
finishing touches on the destruction of the scientific method and approval
process.” An official of the ACNFC told this reporter that “Only a total
idiot would ingest Silicon Crunch…but given what the food industry has
been able to get Americans to ingest, I don’t hold out much hope of
preventing its widespread use.”
It appears that the controversy may rage for a considerable length of
time. The only agreed upon fact is that very soon many people will
experience first-hand the benefits or risks of Silicon Crunch.
