Nutrition News & Views

May 31, 1997
Nutrition News & Views May 1997

Contents

INSTANT HAND SANITIZERS

We have received several questions about the product Purellr Instant Hand Sanitizer. Mrs. Carol Campbell did a great deal of research about the product and contacted the State Department of Health for their evaluation of the product. Dr. Mary Currier of the Division of Epidemiology has issued an official statement pertaining to the product. She states that "the product can be a useful supplement to the personal hygiene habits that are necessary in many occupations, if it is used when hand washing is not possible. However, it should not be used to replace hand washing with soap and water, if hand washing with soap and water is possible." Mrs. Charlene Bruce, Director of the Division of Sanitation goes on to add "that the only situation where hand washing with soap and water is not possible would be at temporary events and during emergency situations when water is not available. Using a hand sanitizer after properly washing hands is an added measure of protection. We encourage its use in this manner." A copy of both responses is attached for your files.

MISSISSIPPI DIETETIC ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Attached is a current copy of the Mississippi Dietetic Association Directory. The first section is a listing of the current Executive Board members. Following is a complete listing of members. In the past Home Economists have found this list helpful in locating Registered Dietitians in their area for joint programing efforts.

FETUS FLOURISHES IN SPITE OF MATERNAL BOTULISM

A 37-year-old Spanish woman, 23 weeks pregnant with her third child, developed botulism as a result of eating home-produced green beans. She had a severe case of the disease, remaining in the hospital for three months. At one point, when she was almost completely paralyzed, fetal movements were the only visible motion. In spite of her illness, the fetus developed normally and a month after hospital discharge she had a normal delivery. Follow-up revealed no problems with either mother or child. Food Safety Notebook 7(9):74 (September 1996).

PAUNCH LINES: WEIGHT LOSS CLAIMS ARE NO JOKE FOR DIETERS - FTC CONSUMER ALERT As the incidence of obesity continues to rise in this country we are and will continue to see a number of products or programs that promise fast or easy weight loss. Attached is a Federal Trade Commission Consumer Alert addressing a few of the weight loss claims along with some tips for evaluating weight loss claims.

BREASTMILK OR FORMULA

New parents want to give their babies the very best. When it comes to nutrition, the best first food for babies is breast milk. More than two decades of research have established that breast milk is perfectly suited to nourish infants and protect them from illness. Breast-fed infants have lower rates of hospital admissions, ear infections, diarrhea, rashes, allergies, and other medical problems than bottle-fed babies. Attached is a reprint from the FDA Consumer Magazine "Breastmilk or Formula: Making the Right Choice for your Baby." It contains revisions made in December 1996. FDA can be found on the Internet: http://www.fda.gov

SULFITES: SAFE FOR MOST, DANGEROUS FOR SOME

The Food and Drug Administration estimates that one out of 100 people is sulfite-sensitive, and that 5% of those who have asthma are also at risk of suffering an adverse reaction to sulfites. According an FDA Consumer Safety Officer, by law, adverse reactions to drugs must be reported to FDA by doctors and pharmaceutical companies. But with sulfites and other food ingredients, reporting is voluntary so it's difficult to say just how many people may be at risk. The attached article, Sulfites: Safe For Most, Dangerous For Some, from the December 1996 FDA Consumer gives some of the background information surrounding sulfites and the controversy that should be helpful in answering consumers' questions and concerns. Some key points in the article are include a review of the regulatory actions taken by the FDA in 1986. They include:
  • Prohibited the use of sulfites to maintain color and crispness on fruits and vegetables meant to be eaten raw (for instance, restaurant salad bars or fresh product in supermarkets).
  • Required companies to list on products labels sulfiting agents that occur at concentrations of 10 ppm or higher, and any sulfiting agents that had a technical or functional effect in the food (for instance, as a perservative) regardless of the amount present. (This labeling requirement was extended to standardized foods, such as pickles and bottled lemon juice, in 1993).
  • FDA requires that the presence of sulfites be disclosed on labels of packaged food. This information will be included in the ingredient portion of the label, along with the function of the sulfiting agent.
  • When food is sold unpackaged in bulk form, store managers must post a sign or some other type of labeling that lists the food's ingredients on the container or at the counter so that consumers can determine whether the product was treated with a sulfiting agent.
Since sulfites are added to so many foods, someone who is sensitive to the additive must not assume that a food is safe to eat. Measures to avoid sulfites when buying unlabeled foods at the deli or supermarket or ordering at a restaurant include:
  • If the food is packaged, read the label. If it is being sold loose or by the portion, ask the store manager or waiter to check the ingredient list on the product's original bulk-size packaging
  • Avoid processed foods that contain sulfites, such as dried fruits, canned vegetables, maraschino cherries, and guacamole. If you want to eat a potato, order a baked potato rather than hash browns, fries, or any dish that involves peeling the potato first.
  • If you have asthma, have your inhaler with you when you go out to eat. If you have experienced a sever reaction to sulfites in the past (such as breaking out in hives), carry an antihistamine and make sure you have handy a self-administering injectable epinephrine, such as EpiPen, so that if you have a reaction you can stabilize your condition until you get to an emergency room.
Regulations can go a long way towards protecting people, but there is not substitute for knowledge.

ENCLOSURES

(Unless otherwise noted, the enclosures were sent directly to the county Extension office)
  • MSDH Statement on Hand Sanitizers
  • MDA Membership List
  • Paunch Lines: Weight Loss Claims are No Joke for Dieters - FTC Consumer Alert
  • Sulfites: Safe For Most, Dangerous For Some - FDA Consumer, December 1996
  • Breastmilk or Formula: Making the Right Choice for Your Baby - FDA Consumer
Melissa Mixon, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.
Human Nutrition Specialist

A black line that separates the body text from footer information