Fluoride in Chicken
NYSCOF
and toddlers contain fluoride, not listed as an ingredient, that can
damage children's teeth, according to the September, 2001, Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Because fluoride is added to most U.S. water supplies and that water is
used to process foods that feed and water farm animals, sometimes
fluoride shows up in the strangest places.
Swallowed fluoride stores in bones as well as teeth. Meat removed from
bones by a machine invariably grinds bone powder into the finished
product. So mechanically separated meats, especially chicken, have much
more fluoride than most foods because they contain fluoride-rich bone
dust.
Fluoride is added to water supplies to reduce tooth decay "There is,
however, a narrow range between beneficial and undesirable effects of
fluoride intake," write Oregon State University researchers Fein and
Cerklewski, authors of "Fluoride Content of Foods Made with
Mechanically Separated Chicken."
"Fluoride contributed by foods made with mechanically separated chicken
could increase the risk of mild dental fluorosis for children less than
eight years of age when combined with other sources of fluoride
exposure," conclude Fein and Cerklewski
The researchers tested pureed chicken, chicken sticks, vienna sausage
and luncheon meat, made with mechanically separated chicken and turkey,
for fluoride content.
One small jar of baby food, they found, made with mechanically
separated chicken, delivers more fluoride than a 6-month-old child
should receive in an entire day and, therefore, puts that child at risk
of developing dental fluorosis.
A one-year-old toddler could receive all his/her daily fluoride
allotment from one serving of chicken sticks made with mechanically
separated chicken.
To avoid moderate fluorosis (white spotted, yellow or brown stained
permanent teeth) the National Academy of Science advises the following
daily fluoride "adequate intake" from all sources (food, air, water,
medicines, and supplements):
* infants up to 6 months old - less than 0.01 mg
* babies from 6 - 12 months - less than 0.5 mg
* children from 1 to 3 years old - less than 0.7 mg
* children from 4 to 8 years old - less than 1 mg
Fein and Cerklewski found:
* A single serving (71 g or 2.5 ounces) of mechanically separated
pureed chicken baby food contained 0.6 mg fluoride.
* A single jar (71g) of chicken sticks could provide 0.4 mg of
fluoride,
* One serving (71g) of luncheon meat containing mechanically
separated chicken could provide as much as 0.45 mg of fluoride for a
child.
* Mechanically separated turkey meat had much lower fluoride levels
because turkey bones are much harder to crush.
"A desirable level of fluoride intake could, therefore, be exceeded
on a recurring basis when combined with other sources of fluoride
intake such as fluoridated water, foods made with fluoridated water,
and swallowing of fluoridated toothpaste." write authors, Fein and
Cerklewski.
"Results...demonstrate that foods labeled as containing mechanically
separated chicken contain high concentrations of fluoride in contrast
to foods in general which contain 0.3 micrograms fluoride (per gram of
food)." write the authors.
"This study adds to a growing body of research exposing the
unanticipated glut of fluoride adulterating our food and beverage
supply because of water fluoridation." says Paul Beeber, President and
General Counsel, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation.
According to Clemson University, mechanically deboned poultry no longer
is required to be labeled as such and could simply be listed in the
ingredients statement as "chicken" or "turkey."
New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridaton, Inc.
PO Box 263
Old Bethpage, NY 11804
Web sites:
http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof
www.FluorideAction.Net