Toto
2006-10-18 09:05:13 UTC
Before you go out for ice cream read this!
According to a study published on Junkscience.com unsafe levels of
dioxin were measured in a sample of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Ben &
Jerry's don't deny the allegations, in fact according to their own
promotional literature "Dioxin is known to cause cancer, genetic and
reproductive defects and learning disabilities... The only safe level
of dioxin exposure is no exposure at all."
Dioxin is a by-product of industrial processes such as bleaching with
chlorine bleach to whiten products including food containers. Dioxin
can also be created naturally through combustion of plant materials.
The authors of the study report that according to Ben & Jerry's and U.
S. Environmental Protection Agency standards, the level of dioxin
measured could cause about 200 "extra" cancers among lifetime consumers
of Ben & Jerry's ice cream.
For women, this news could have a profound impact on their reproductive
health since dioxin exposure is linked to cancer and is considered a
possible cause of endometriosis--a painful condition that can result in
fertility problems and/or hysterectomy, as well as chronic pelvic pain
and other conditions.
Michael Gough, lead author, said "The level of dioxin in a serving of
the Ben & Jerry's World's Best Vanilla Ice Cream tested was almost 200
times greater than the 'virtually safe (daily) dose' determined by the
EPA. Mr. Gough is a former government scientist who chaired the U. S.
Department of Health and Human Services advisory panel on the effects
of dioxin-contaminated Agent Orange on U. S. Air Force personnel in
Vietnam.
Gough continued "An independent laboratory measured 0.79 +/- 0.38 parts
per trillion of dioxin in the sample of ice cream. Our result has
measurement error associated with it and the sample may not be
representative of all Ben & Jerry's ice cream, but our result is
consistent with current scientific literature."
Gough and Steven Milloy, editor of Junkscience.com, noted that they
believe existing scientific evidence does not credibly link low levels
of dioxin exposure with human health effects. "But not everyone
agrees," said Milloy. "Ben & Jerry's and Greenpeace, the company's
source for information about dioxin, have concluded that dioxin is not
safe at any level."
Milloy suggested that if dioxin is so dangerous, perhaps Ben & Jerry's
should remove its ice cream from the market until it is 'safe,'
consistent with the company's promotional literature." In response, Ben
& Jerry's said "While Ben & Jerry's may not directly control these
dioxin emissions, we do know that a reduced reliance on chlorine as a
bleaching agent will lead to a reduction in dioxin releases from paper
mills in our waterways." Steps to convert its pint packaging to
unbleached paperboard are currently underway.
According to a study published on Junkscience.com unsafe levels of
dioxin were measured in a sample of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Ben &
Jerry's don't deny the allegations, in fact according to their own
promotional literature "Dioxin is known to cause cancer, genetic and
reproductive defects and learning disabilities... The only safe level
of dioxin exposure is no exposure at all."
Dioxin is a by-product of industrial processes such as bleaching with
chlorine bleach to whiten products including food containers. Dioxin
can also be created naturally through combustion of plant materials.
The authors of the study report that according to Ben & Jerry's and U.
S. Environmental Protection Agency standards, the level of dioxin
measured could cause about 200 "extra" cancers among lifetime consumers
of Ben & Jerry's ice cream.
For women, this news could have a profound impact on their reproductive
health since dioxin exposure is linked to cancer and is considered a
possible cause of endometriosis--a painful condition that can result in
fertility problems and/or hysterectomy, as well as chronic pelvic pain
and other conditions.
Michael Gough, lead author, said "The level of dioxin in a serving of
the Ben & Jerry's World's Best Vanilla Ice Cream tested was almost 200
times greater than the 'virtually safe (daily) dose' determined by the
EPA. Mr. Gough is a former government scientist who chaired the U. S.
Department of Health and Human Services advisory panel on the effects
of dioxin-contaminated Agent Orange on U. S. Air Force personnel in
Vietnam.
Gough continued "An independent laboratory measured 0.79 +/- 0.38 parts
per trillion of dioxin in the sample of ice cream. Our result has
measurement error associated with it and the sample may not be
representative of all Ben & Jerry's ice cream, but our result is
consistent with current scientific literature."
Gough and Steven Milloy, editor of Junkscience.com, noted that they
believe existing scientific evidence does not credibly link low levels
of dioxin exposure with human health effects. "But not everyone
agrees," said Milloy. "Ben & Jerry's and Greenpeace, the company's
source for information about dioxin, have concluded that dioxin is not
safe at any level."
Milloy suggested that if dioxin is so dangerous, perhaps Ben & Jerry's
should remove its ice cream from the market until it is 'safe,'
consistent with the company's promotional literature." In response, Ben
& Jerry's said "While Ben & Jerry's may not directly control these
dioxin emissions, we do know that a reduced reliance on chlorine as a
bleaching agent will lead to a reduction in dioxin releases from paper
mills in our waterways." Steps to convert its pint packaging to
unbleached paperboard are currently underway.