Letters to the Editor
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‘Health Scares Ahead’
Regarding Elizabeth Whelan’s article that attempted to minimize the dangers of trans fats [Oped, “Health Scares Ahead,” January 3, 2007], it was stated at the end of the article that Mrs. Whelan is president of the American Council on Science and Health.
However, it was not disclosed that this organization receives a substantial portion of its funding from large food corporations that widely use partially hydrogenated oils, trans fats, as ingredients in their products.
In reality, the council is nothing more than an industry front-group that promotes views consistent with those of such corporations. The dangers of trans fats have been well-researched and widely acknowledged in the scientific community.
JOE CHARLES
New York, N.Y.
Mrs. Whelan replies:
It is unfortunate that Mr. Charles offers no scientific rebuttal to my oped — he simply asserts, falsely, that the American Council on Science and Health “receives a substantial portion of its funding from large food corporations that widely use partially hydrogenated oils, trans fats, as ingredients in their products.”
The facts are as follows: The council accepts unrestricted donations from diverse sources, including private foundations, corporations, and over 3,000 consumer members who send personal checks in the range of $25 to $10,000.
Very few food companies contribute to the council, and all corporate contributions are unrestricted, with no strings attached.
Of the few food corporations that do support the council, none that we know of defends the use of trans fats. Indeed, the council is unaware of any food company or food vendor that currently does so.
The American Council on Science and Health stands alone in defending the science on the issue of trans fat and health. Our booklet on trans fat — see acsh.org — speaks for itself. As far as we know, no funding source has benefited from our position.
The council’s scientific positions are the results of rigorous peer review by scientists on our 400-member panel of advisers — and our conclusions are completely independent of any funding.
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