Posted on: Wednesday, February 16, 2005

SHAPE UP
Bits of filth in our diets won't hurt

By Charles Stuart Platkin

Did you know that you're eating insects, rat hair, rat excrement and insect fragments every day? And that it's OK with the U.S. government?

It's true. The Food and Drug Administration sets "food defect action levels," the maximum levels of natural or unavoidable defects in foods — such as how many insects or rat hairs are permissible.

Why allow any defects?

The action levels were created because it's "economically impractical to grow, harvest or process foods that are totally free of safe, naturally occurring, unavoidable defects," says Barry Swanson, professor of food science and nutrition at Washington State University-Pullman.

In fact, the FDA guidelines say: "The alternative to establishing natural defect levels in some foods would be to insist on increased utilization of chemical substances to control insects, rodents and other natural contaminants.

"The alternative is not satisfactory because of the very real danger of exposing consumers to potential hazards from residues of these chemicals, as opposed to the aesthetically unpleasant but harmless natural and unavoidable defects." In other words, to have no defects, you would have to use more chemicals, and foods would be less healthy.

Eating insects

An Ohio University fact sheet estimates that we unintentionally eat 1 pound to 2 pounds of insects each year. "They're actually healthy," says Philip Nixon, an entomologist at the University of Illinois. Insects are a regular part of a balanced diet throughout most of the world, with the exception of Europe and North America. And, "If we were more willing to accept higher aesthetic defect levels, growers could reduce pesticides and chemicals," adds Nixon.

Are these 'defects' dangerous?

"Not at all," says Manfred Kroger, a professor of food science at Pennsylvania State University. They're basically processed filth, meaning they have been sterilized. "Let's face it," he says, "much of our food comes from nature, and nature is not perfect." And that means it has some level of contamination (mold, insects, rodent hairs, etc.). "This is more about how the food looks and what people think than about health," says Stephen Pintauro, a professor of food science at the University of Vermont.

Is organic the answer?

"Organic food is probably worse," says Kroger. "Using raw animal waste as fertilizer and less pesticides makes it more difficult to keep organic foods free of defects."

Which foods are affected?

The FDA list includes about 105 foods, which seem almost randomly selected. But according to the FDA, the foods are listed "whenever it is necessary and feasible," which basically translates to those with the most frequent problems.

Does this mean other foods don't have defects? No. "All foods have defects," says Pintauro.

Only 10 percent

The "action levels" determined by the FDA are the upper limits allowed by law.

However, according to the FDA, we can expect to find about 10 percent of the action levels in our food on average, although some food scientists argue it could be as high as 40 percent.

The food-defect action levels

Here is a sampling of foods from the guide. You can view the full list on the FDA Web site.

Chocolate

• Defect: Insect and rodent filth.
• Action level: An average of 60 or more insect fragments and one or more rodent hairs per 100 grams.
• Example: A typical 2-ounce chocolate bar could have as many as 36 insect fragments and about half a rodent hair and still be sold.

Charles Stuart Platkin is a nutrition and public health advocate. Write to info@thedietdetective.com.