The original article ‘Health Canada may add anti-cancer drug to junk food’ was written by the CTV news staff and published on CTV.ca on Dec.22. 2009. (Original)
Health Canada has proposed an unusual new side to fast foods most Canadians buy everyday. It’s an additive called asparaginase. It’s a leukemia-fighter, and Health Canada is asking Canadians to comment on how they feel about this additive.
Over the years different health organizations have begun to recognize a toxin known as acrylamide, which is created during the frying process in most fries, potato chips, cereals, cookies, coffee and other packaged and fast foods. Acrylamide has been proven in lab mice tests to cause cancer, but scientists are unsure if it is carcinogenic in humans as well. Although, they’re not taking any chances this time.
Asparaginase has also been tested in lab mice, and has been proven to fight the cancer caused by acrylamide, although again, scientists are unsure how it will react in the human body.
There’s a problem with this equation. Additives that were supposed to be good for food and the consumer have been proposed and added before, with negative results. Trans fats is a major candidate in this category, which became the leading cause of heart disease. Introduced in the early 1900′s trans fats was a way to keep food longer if it were to be refrigerated. This additive stayed active in foods until early 2000, and can still be found in some fast foods today.
So now here we are again, a new product being proposed to be added to our everyday meals. There’s another problem that arises. If Health Canada is so concerned with the possibility of these foods causing cancer, enough to add a cancer fighting additive, why is the government allowing these products to currently be sold with nothing to fight the possibility of a carcinogenic toxin. Also, what happens if most Canadians say no to this additive, what is the next step? Will Health Canada do what should have been done in the first place and force companies to come up with a new way to produce their packaged products?
There are two key differences to this new additive. First of all, it’s being made public and it’s meant to help the consumer rather than the company. Second of all, Health Canada is giving Canadians a chance to voice their opinions on how they feel about having this product added to their food. This may be something you’re feeding your family everyday. It’s important for Canadians to do their homework first before making any decisions, and research the facts on both asparaginase and acrylamide.
You can add your comments to Health Canada about this proposed additive here, the government is leaving this opinion forum open until February 21st. If you have something to say, don’t stand by, get involved.
I remember reading about this and it’s kind of creepy to be honest. It seems people these days are all about cutting corners rather than doing what’s best for everyone. If fast food is that important to a person’s lifestyle than maybe they should be agreeing to add this cancer fighting agent but if this is what it’s come to than shouldn’t one be asking themselves, “should I really be putting this food in my body in the first place?” I am a McDonalds lover! I don’t think about it…I just eat it…but maybe this proves that it’s time we start thinking about it because it seems that having to add stuff to food to fight the cancer that it may cause is just too far. I know it’s too much for me to stomach.