Funny as all get out from the ACOEM chatboard, April Fools Day, Toxic Mold

[Guest guest]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

P07-25

Sun 1 Apr 2007

Media Inquiries:

R. Mesnier , 301-827-6242

U.S. Fool and Drug Administration

Consumer Inquiries:

888-INFO-FDA

FDA News (_ online version_ (http://www.occhealthnews.net/fda-mold.htm) )

Toxic Mold Causes Memory Loss, Judgment Effects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Inquiries: Roland Mesnier , 301-827-6242 Consumer Inquiries:

888-INFO-FDA

Memory, Judgment Problems Blamed On Mold-Related Neuro-Toxin

Increasingly frequent situations of evident brain and nervous system

deterioration have reached news reports and political discussion boards.

Examples of

recent political controversy regarding Administration officials' memories

and recall include:

* Attorney General ' _omission_

(http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/jan-june07/attorneys_03-13.html) of

staffing discussions with political

advisors

* VP Chief of Staff Libby's confabulated _details_

(http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc/exhibits/0306/gx1t.txt) regarding press

sources of

classified origin

* VP Cheney's own repeatedly amnestic _responses_

(http://www.bushoniraq.com/cheney1.html) regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction

in Iraq and links

between El-Quaeda and Saddam Hussain

After recognizing the situation to be a tight aggregation of uncommon

effects, an evaluation of a potential outbreak was initiated by the

Epidemiology

Intelligence Service (_EIS_ (http://www.cdc.gov/eis/) is CDC's non-covert

investigation unit). Systematic assessment using routine public health measures

of dietary and environmental exposures has revealed several potential

toxicants, including well-recognized hazards with neurological toxidromes.

Dietary

histories evaluated for statistical association (retrospective case-control,

chi-squared analysis) with those suffering neural / behavioral dysfunction

revealed a high correlation to intake of a molded dessert containing gelatin,

sour cream, canned fruit elements and Kool Whip® topping. (Use of trade names

and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement

by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.)

_Gelatin_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelatin) itself has been recognized

as a potential toxic component of dessert and sauce elements in recent

years. When the presence of gelatin was revealed in salad dressing for

" vegetarian " salads, outcry was widespread among religious communities. More

general

alarm has been raised over this material when source animals are recognized as

_potential sources of prions_

(http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1202:17736424144476294003::NO::F2\

400_P1202_CHECK_DISPLAY,F2400_P1202_PUB_MAIL_ID:

X,13406) or " Mad Cow Disease " , associated with human risk for variant

Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (vCJD). In the present situation, disease latency

required identification of a more rapid cause (delay for vCJD is months-years;

the

White House cluster was characterized by only weeks after shared exposure).

Mold effects have are an increasingly discussed hazard, and may provide an

explanation.

Unlike most food items, molded gelatin is more likely to be served to a group

and shared widely. Individual servings of gelatin salad or dessert are

usually simple cubes, filled bowls or scooped servings. In celebratory communal

settings however, gelatin molds are often created intentionally, combining

decorative and culinary motives. These social situations for widespread gelatin

consumption increase the molded desserts' hazards, yielding greater public

health impact than ordinary individual intake.

Historically, molded gelatin dishes (often from family recipes) have

frequently been served in White House gatherings. Still available recipes

include:

* Mrs. _Truman_ (http://www.trumanlibrary.org/

whistlestop/50yr_archive/recipies.htm) 's Bing Cherry Mold (Salad)

* Mrs. _Eisenhower_

(http://www.joycesfinecooking.com/Jello-Fruit%20Salads/mrs_eisenhowers_mint_deli\

ght.htm) 's Frosted Mint Delight

* _Clinton_

(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/03/AR2007020301763\

..html?nav=rss_opinion/columns) 's family favorite

Coca-Cola Jello Mold (with black glace cherries)

* _Barbara Bush's grandmother_

(http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/food_and_drink/features/article329859.ece)

's recipe for ring mold with

horseradish, double cream, vegetables and mayonnaise

Recognizing that molding gelatin may increase the cumulative hazard to

consumers, its increased popularity in conservative political circles has been

evaluated. Apparently, the Eisenhower-like _1950_

(http://www.kraftfoods.com/jello/explore/history/) 's appeal resonates within

the current Republican

hierarchy, leading to expectations for similar trends of hula-hoops and

poodle-skirts.

Specific protective interventions to reduce toxic effects from current

recipes and serving instructions are still under development. Experts do agree

that certain mold _configurations _

(http://www.amazon.com/Human-Brain-Gelatin-Mold-21013/dp/B0009VJ2IG/ref=pd_bbs_s\

r_2/104-6189851-5099160?ie=UTF8 & s=hpc & qid=11

75232901 & sr=8-2) are especially hazardous and capable of cerebral injury (

_see _

(http://www.amazon.com/Human-Brain-Gelatin-Mold-21013/dp/B0009VJ2IG/ref=pd_bbs_s\

r_2/104-6189851-5099160?ie=UTF8 & s=hpc & qid=1175232901 & sr=8-2) image).

References:

1. ProMED: 05-FEB-07 _PRO/AH/EDR> CJD (new var.) update 2007 (03) _

(http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1202:9432510257775574352::NO::F24\

00_P1202

_CHECK_DISPLAY,F2400_P1202_PUB_MAIL_ID:X,36201)

2. ProMED: 30-JAN-06 _PRO/AH/EDR> Dioxin, animal feed - Belgium _

(http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1202:9432510257775574352::NO::F24\

00_P1202_C

HECK_DISPLAY,F2400_P1202_PUB_MAIL_ID:X,31817)

3.ProMED: 19-JAN-03 _PRO/AH> BSE - Japan_

(http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1202:9432510257775574352::NO::F24\

00_P1202_CHECK_DISPLAY,F2400_P1202

_PUB_MAIL_ID:X,20454)

4. Mesnier R, Malard C, All the Presidents' Pastries: Twenty-Five Years in

the White House, A Memoir, Flammarion (February, 2007, _$16.47_

(http://www.amazon.com/All-Presidents-Pastries-Twenty-Five-Memoir/dp/208030559X/\

ref=pd_bbs_sr_

1/104-6189851-5099160?ie=UTF8 & s=books & qid=1175346414 & sr=8-1) )

5. History of Jell-O; 'The _History_

(http://www.kraftfoods.com/jello/explore/history/) Of The Wiggle'

_www.kraftfoods.com/jello/explore/history/ _

(http://www.kraftfoods.com/jello/explore/history/)

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