Judith Valentine, PhD, CNA, CNC does an exquisite job explaining the dangers of soda pop, including the ingredients and the harm they can cause to our health, especially our children. (From the library at the Weston A. Price Foundation):
The addict feels low. His body needs a boost. He reaches into his pocket and finds a dollar bill. He slides it into the machine and a can rolls out. He opens the can and guzzles. He feels his energy return. His fix will last a couple of hours, enough to keep him alert for the rest of the morning.
The addict is twelve years old and his drug is a soft drink, purchased from a vending machine in his school. This addict and thousands like him will attend special classes, sponsored by his school, to warn him about the dangers of drugs, tobacco and alcohol. But no one will tell him about America’s other drinking problem. Go to the full article.
[...] On a similar note, back in the early 90’s, EPA and DOT wanted to define milk as a “hazardous material” under rules pertaining to oil spills. This was because the definition of oils included petroleum-based oils as well as fats and oils from vegetable and animal origin. The dairy industry needed to spend untold sums to Washington lobbyists to prevent the hazardous designation. This relieved truck transporters of milk and vegetable oil from putting “hazardous material” signs on their trucks and to have special papers onboard. All of this so that environmental spill responders would know that the spill material was milk containing 1-5 percent fat. The rationale was that, in the event a milk truck overturned on or near a bridge, these procedures might reduce the potential effect on fish and other aquatic life. I won’t get into here how Coca-cola and other soft drinks would have been classed also as a “hazardous material” because of its acid content (pH), but something tells me that EPA and DOT won’t do it with America’s other drinking problem. [...]
[...] Many have switched to diet pop: the aspartame (is that one called Equal or “Sweet and Low”?) that studies show helps you get fat. Problem is that is causes neurological problems in some and decomposes into formaldehyde like substances if it sits in the hot sun, but does so anyway in the gut. Now, Splenda and Sucrolose, well, that is another story. Honestly, I don’t know which is worse: HFCS-laden pop or the “diet” drinks. But it’s nice the pop makers give us choices when it comes to America’s other drinking problem. [...]