By: David Schmidt, International Food Information Council Foundation President and CEO   Date: 12/11/09

This blog post called “The 7 Foods Experts Won’t Eat” was recently passed on to me and is getting a lot of attention in the blogosphere these days.  It’s a pretty shocking take on food and while some “experts” may tell you to be afraid of eating certain things, the hundreds of highly respected experts that we work with on a regular basis will tell you a much different story.

For example, foods in tin cans, like canned tomatoes, are a staple in many households and should remain so. While many folks have questions about Bisphenol-A (BPA), a compound in the epoxy resins for can coatings, research continues to show that BPA is safe.  The FDA currently recommends that consumers do not take any action regarding BPA.   Carl Winter, PhD, Director of the FoodSafe Program and Extension Food Toxicologist at University of California-Davis, also agrees.  Dr. Winter notes that BPA research “offers no clear evidence of developmental or reproductive harm to consumers.”

The “7 Foods” post also claims that milk containing rbST contains increased levels of growth hormone.  rbST does help cows produce milk, but research has shown it does not significantly increase levels of hormones in the milk. The FDA has approved the use of rbST and determined that it is safe and effective for dairy cows, and that the milk from cows supplemented with rbST is safe for human consumption.  Numerous other scientific and regulatory bodies agree including the American Dietetic Association which found no meaningful differences in nutritional value, quality, or hormone composition.

We asked Robert Gravani, PhD, Professor of Food Science at Cornell University to react to the "7 Foods" post:

“There are science-based programs and processes in place to ensure that we have a safe and abundant food supply that includes both organic and conventional farm practices.  These practices provide consumers with a wide variety of food choices.  In addition, conventionally and organically produced foods are no different in terms of nutritional quality or other health benefits.”  

Preventing myths and misinformation may not be as entertaining as perpetuating them, but we hope future bloggers will review the totality of the science more carefully before posting similar pieces.  Lists of “scary” foods are always good ways to grab your attention, but aren’t always based in sound science and can easily misrepresent the safety and benefits of many popular, nutritious, and fun foods.  Realistically, all foods are safe to eat given proper cooking and handling practices. Consumers have several options when choosing foods for their families.  It is important for them to know all of the facts to make informed decisions about food. 

Check out some additional science-based perspectives on topics discussed in the “7 Foods” article, including BPA, rbST, agricultural practices, which can be found on our www.foodinsight.org Web site.