• Tobacco: Although additive-free sources of tobacco are available, smoke contains many carcinogenic compounds once combusted. According to the American Lung Association, the use of tobacco is implicated in a variety of cancers, emphysema and asthma. The EPA ruling about second-hand effects on health has resulted in the gradual phasing out of smoking in public places.
• Alcoholic Beverages: The health effects of alcohol range from extremely detrimental when used in excess to potentially beneficial when used in careful moderation. Any amount of alcohol is considered detrimental to children and to women during pregnancy (ref 3). HWFC does not carry alcohol because it does not have a license to sell it as required by law.
• Food Containing Artificial Preservatives, Artificial Food Coloring and Artificial Sweeteners: Conflicting studies bring into question the safety of many commercially developed food additives. Political interference in regulatory agencies further complicates this issue. These additives are often used to extend product shelf life, avoid refrigeration or to compensate for or disguise the use of inexpensive, inferior ingredients (ref 4). For these reasons and those listed below, HWFC has chosen to avoid artificial preservatives, artificial food coloring and artificial sweeteners in favor of products with high quality ingredients and natural additives. The co-op attempts to rotate stock quickly.
  1. Artificial Preservatives: Several artificial preservatives, such as sulfites, nitrites and salicylates, are allergens that can cause severe reactions in susceptible individuals or are suspected carcinogens (ref 5). Natural preservatives are available and effective. Examples are salt, hot pepper, vinegar, ascorbic acid, and sugar.
  2. Artificial Food Coloring: Most artificial colorings are synthetic chemicals that do not occur in nature. Critics charge that they have been inadequately tested. Yellow #5 has recently been implicated as an allergen creating responses from hives to death (through anaphylactic shock) (ref 6). Effects in the developing nervous system are now being studied, as a potential cause of Attention Deficit Disorder (ref 6). Artificial colors are often used in non-nutritional food without real fruit.
  3. Artificial Sweeteners: Artificial sweeteners include aspartame (Nutrasweet), saccharin and sucralose (Splenda). Original aspartame studies showed that the drug triggered brain, mammary, uterine, ovarian, testicular, thyroid and pancreatic tumors; new studies show that the toxin increases the risk of heart attack and stroke (ref 6). Studies on animals have shown that saccharin can cause cancer and it is listed by the World Health Organization as a carcinogen (ref 6). Congress intervened to permit its use in the United States with a warning label. Splenda, the brand name for sucralose, has not been subjected to long-term health studies in humans (ref 6). There are natural low calorie alternatives available. Examples are the sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol). These products contribute less calories than sugar but may have a laxative effect if consumed in large amounts.
• Dairy Products from Cows that are given Growth Hormones: Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) is used primarily to increase milk production. Its use results in increased mastitis in cows who in turn are given antibiotics. There is a public health concern that antibiotics are becoming ineffective because of their overuse in the treatment of animals (ref 7, 8). Our milk and dairy suppliers advise us that growth hormones are not given to their cows. However, it is difficult to determine the source of dairy ingredients in other processed, pre-packaged products.
• High Fructose Corn Syrup: High fructose corn syrup is a highly refined product, devoid of nutrients. It may unfavorably alter blood lipids, notably triglycerides, raising the risk of heart disease (ref 3). There are also detrimental environmental effects from growing corn to produce corn syrup, including soil depletion, nitrogen runoff and use of Genetically-Modified Organisms (ref 2).
• Hydrogenated Oil: Scientific studies have confirmed that hydrogenated oils (trans fatty acids) are harmful to health. Expert recommendations for intake of trans fats are currently zero, or extremely low (ref 3). HWFC currently stocks one hydrogenated oil margarine that the co-op has carried for many years. In 2006, all manufacturers must label the presence of hydrogenated oil on the "Nutrition Facts" panel of packages.

Continue to Section 8: Consumer Education Issues