The topic of food additives is not quickly addressed in one article. Searches on the internet can reveal information that is either pro or con regarding food additive substances.
Depending on one's personal philosophy, it is possible to justify the inclusion or the exclusion of food additives. There are many companies which justify the addition of food additives of one sort or another with various rationales. In fact, some -- or even many -- of the additives can be consumed with no immediate obvious harmful effects.
The reader is referred to the Natural Ovens Bakery / Nutritional Resource Foundation (http://naturalovens.com) article which details all of the many food additives: "Toxin Additives in Food and Drink: Toxic compounds in your foods:"
In this reference, Paul Stitt, CEO, Natural Ovens Bakery, makes the statement that his company will NEVER use any of those additives in their products as they are listed here:
http://www.naturalovens.com/lib/content/
default/sci_articles/
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Toxin_Additives_in_Food_and_Drink.PDF
It is a professional decision for A Better Community For All (ABC4All) to screen info/products/companies/ingredients and work only with those companies, like Natural Ovens Bakery, that do NOT include in their products anything that is known to be harmful as much as possible.
At the same time, anyone can be allergic to anything at any time. So one simply needs always to proceed with caution, be alert and on the lookout, and then deal with whatever reactions are manifesting should they occur.
Prevention may be the best approach, and this area of focus is becoming very much more explored in health circles. The information posted about the scientific development of "Plasma Activated Water (PAW)" at http://ABC4All.net/paw.htm may provide future protection against many bacteria/viruses that are being avoided, supposedly, with the additives.
Many so called health supplements/products that contain additives can be shown via sound research to be beneficial over time. That does not mean the last word is in. It is a well known fact that long-term harmful, even dangerous, effects can emerge over time. Those companies preferring to avoid the possibility for allergic and other harmful reactions to substances like sodium benzoate (and so many other food additives, as referenced by Paul Stitt above) are at least attempting to watch out for the consumer to the best of their ability and are offering that much more protection against potentially harmful influences.
The final answer, possibly, will lie with those who are interested in health maintenance first and in the protection of others, not in allowing business decisions to come first or in earning the dollars associated with the lucrative health supplement industry that so often includes unhealthy ingredients in spite of all the claims, testimonials and even scientifically conducted research.
Respectfully submitted,
Burton Danet, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist (retired)
Founder, A Better Community For All (ABC4All): "Maximizing Charitable Contributions on the Internet"
http://ABC4All.net
Burton Danet, Ph.D., Co-Founder of A Better Community For All (ABC4All) was interviewed by Holistic Junction: "Glimpse of a Remarkable Health League of its Own: Burton Danet, PH.D. & ABC4ALL:" http://www.holisticjunction.com/displayarticle.cfm?ID=2990
Through a collaboration with Huck-Fin Environmental Education (HFEE), San Diego, California, ABC4All/HFEE have originated a comprehensive solution to the obesity epidemic ("globesity"): Community Health, Exercise and Nutrition for All (CHEN4All): http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb178191.php