Most Americans are not Scientifically trained. They may have taken a science course in college. But Americans are suckered in by celebrities everyday. Erin Brockavich, Diedra Imus (Don Imus wife) and Suzanne Sommers (Playboy and TV fame) are also famous for spreading false fear of "chemicals." Isn't marketing great!
Poison Ivy is toxic and organic and mostly pesticide free but I would not want it in my salad. Any food with salt on the label is laced with a chemical preservative. Salt. But the marketing culture does not treat it that way.
I have never seen a recent news report, email comment or Facebook rant on the GRAS LIST. But understanding the GRAS list is important to avoid being swindled by celebrities that write books. Read further to learn why.
In the years of the Space Race many were interested in Science and Engineering. Now we are 17th in Science and 25th in Math. And FIRST in knowledge of "JERSEY SHORE." And EVERYBODY LOVES AMERICAN IDOL. Less than 1 in 20 college students now declare math or science as a major, but magically, we believe we become instant "experts" in all manner of subjects because of Facebook and the Internet. I don't think so.
Competence in Brain Surgery requires years of study, but developing opinions on "chemicals" can happen in an instant without any frame of reference. With three quick exchanges from true believers, a documentary film, a news magazine cover story and you have a movement. People justify their beliefs and on to the next set of baby pictures (PS: what Facebook does best is baby pictures).
I can't stand the water torture of the English major "Journalists" pounding, endless, moronic mesaages about "ALL THE CHEMICALS IN THE FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT." Here is an introduction to the Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) list. Di-Hydrogen Oxide, is generally regarded as safe. Also known as water. It is a CHEMICAL. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! Using the list below, look up your most feared chemical. Maybe it isn't all that fearful and you arm yourself with current facts.
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"GRAS" is an acronym for the phrase Generally Recognized As Safe. Under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), any substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by FDA, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excluded from the definition of a food additive.
SAMPLE ENTRY:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnNavigation.cfm?rpt=grasListing&displayAll=false&page=2
SOURCE: http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/GenerallyRecognizedasSafeGRAS/default.htm
