By Les -earn
Socialist Organiser1982 1982-09-09Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 13 →
Read from the scan by machine and not corrected: expect misread words, and now and then a caption or a line from a neighbouring story. For anything you quote, read the scan.
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oxidants"
These additives are supposed to be well-tested but the government food committees responsible for authorisation seem to be rather feeble. One case illustrates this.
In 1903, a bleach, Agene (methionine sulphoximide), was introduced as an additive to flour. In 1927, a food committee called unsuccessfully for its withdrawal. Twenty years later, when it was found to cause 'running fits' in dogs; Sir Edward Mellanby (chairman of another food committee) called again for its withdrawal.
Three years later, another committee called for its withdrawal (it was used in 90% of bread flour by this time). It was finally withdrawn in 1955. Only in 1965 did anyone test its effect on humans, finding that in high doses it caused hallucinations and disorientation.
Testing of additives is carried out by the Flour Milling and Baking Rd. search Association (FMBRA), two-thirds financed by the industry itself!
Scan page 14
•*. Sacialiss Oraniser no 99 September 9 2982, Page 14.