Contaminant in OTC Medications Linked to 34 Deaths

Diethylene glycol "which is used to keep glue and cosmetics moist" is being blamed for 34 deaths in Panama. It has contaminated over-the-counter medications like cough syrup and antihistamine tablets and skin remedies, like calamine lotion and rash ointments.

Diethylene glycol is one of many harmful ingredients that are commonly used in products we consume or put on our skin. The industry typically has downplayed the adverse effects of these types of ingredients, saying there is no cause for concern, or that they're used in such small quantities that they're safe.

The truth of the matter is that there are a lot of ingredients that are being used in our foods and personal care products that should not be used. There IS cause for concern. The industry's not going to take them out, because they deny that they're harmful. That is, unless, consumers stop buying products containing the unsafe ingredients.

If you don't know what's harmful and what's safe, you can find out in Food Additives: A Shopper's Guide To What's Safe & What's Not. With that information, you'll be armed to read labels and know which ingredients should and should not be in the foods and healthcare products you consume.

You vote with your dollars. When enough people stop using the products with the harmful ingredients, the industry will have to change and start producing products with safe and healthy ingredients. But as long as you continue to buy the products with the questionable and harmful ingredients, they'll continue to make them.

If you haven't started reading labels and checking to see if the ingredients are safe or not, now is the time to do so! Your health and your family's health is at stake.

If you're not a chemist and you don't know what to look for, all the information you need to decipher the chemical gobbledy-gook on the ingredients label is the the book, Food Additives: A Shopper's Guide... Food Additives also has a sibling for deciphering personal care product and cosmetic labels, Dying To Look Good.

Now is the time to take charge of your health. These two books make it really easy to get started.

Excerpts from FOOD ADDITIVES: A Shopper's Guide... #36

FOOD ADDITIVES Continued...

C A    Calcium caseinate - 50; may contain free glutamates; see casein, MSG.

* C    Calcium chloride - 23; see nutrient additives; may cause heart problems, gastrointestinal upset.

* S A    Calcium citrate - 14, 18, 44; may interfere with results of medical lab tests, see nutrient additives; may be corn based.

* C    Calcium diacetate - 44; low oral toxicity.

C A    Calcium disodium EDTA - 7, 44; see EDTA.

C    Calcium formate - may cause urinary tract problems.


Note: The codes *, X, C, A are defined in Excerpt #3

The numbers after the additive name are defined on page 8-11 in FOOD ADDITIVES: A Shopper's Guide...

Excerpts from FOOD ADDITIVES: A Shopper's Guide... #35

FOOD ADDITIVES Continued...

* C    Calcium acetate - 44; low oral toxicity.

* C1    Calcium alginate - 50; see alginates.

* S A    Calcium ascorbate - 7; see ascorbic acid.

C A    Calcium benzoate - see benzoate of soda.

C    Calcium bromate - 34; see potassium bromate.

* S    Calcium carbonate - 2, 24, 39, 52; see nutrient additives; may constipate.


Note: The codes *, X, C, A are defined in Excerpt #3

The numbers after the additive name are defined on page 8-11 in FOOD ADDITIVES: A Shopper's Guide...

Excerpts from FOOD ADDITIVES: A Shopper's Guide... #34

FOOD ADDITIVES Continued...

* X A    Butylated hydroxytoluene - see BHT.

C    Butylparaben - 6, 40, aspirin sensitive should
avoid, not adequately tested.

C    Butyraldehyde - 9; ingredient in rubber cement.

C    Butyric acid - 27; see butanoic acid.

X A    BVO - see brominated vegetable oil.

* C    Caffeine - 47; psychoactive, addictive drug; may
cause headaches, irritability, fertility problems, increases risk of miscarriage, birth defects, heart disease, depression, nervousness, behavioral changes, insomnia, etc., inhibits fetal growth.


Note: The codes *, X, C, A are defined in Excerpt #3

The numbers after the additive name are defined on page 8-11 in FOOD ADDITIVES: A Shopper's Guide...

Excerpts from FOOD ADDITIVES: A Shopper's Guide... #33

FOOD ADDITIVES Continued...

C    Broth – see free glutamates.

* C    Brown algae - Possible mercury contamination; avoid during pregnancy; not adequately tested.

S    Brown rice syrup - 49; 1 Tbsp. contains 5 grams of sugars; better tolerated by people with blood sugar disorders, all sweeteners are best avoided, see sucrose.

C    Butane - 41; see isobutane.

* C    Butanoic acid - 27; has caused cancer in animals.

C    Butyl acetate - 9; may cause eye irritation; see benzaldehyde.

C    1,3 butylene glycol - 24, 32; may cause gastrointestinal upset, nervous system disorders.

* X A    Butylated hydroxyanisole - see BHA.

Note: The codes *, X, C, S, A are defined in Excerpt #3

The numbers after the additive name are defined on page 8-11 in FOOD ADDITIVES: A Shopper's Guide...

Learn more about food additives.