Thank God For Small Favors...No, Wait

The Chinese have decided that lye, boric acid and formaldehyde are really not very appropriate food additives. Really. Apparently they didn't already know that. From USA Today...

BEIJING (AP) — Substances commonly used as industrial dyes, insecticides and drain cleaners were included on a list of illegal food additives China released Monday as part of a monthslong government crackdown aimed at improving the country's shoddy food safety record.

Among the 17 banned substances was boric acid, commonly used as an insecticide, which is mixed with noodles and meatballs to increase elasticity, a statement posted on the Ministry of Health website said. Also forbidden was industrial formaldehyde and lye, used in making soap and drain cleaner and added to water used to soak some types of dried seafood to make the products appear fresher and bigger.

A scandal over melamine-tainted infant formula, which likely killed six babies and sickened 294,000 others earlier this year, prompted the government food safety campaign last week.

The list of banned substances was released by a government committee tasked with weeding out the practice of augmenting food products with nonfood additives. Local authorities were also warned to watch out for another 10 food additives that are often used excessively.

"This list provides clues for relevant departments as they carry out this campaign," said the statement, adding that the list was not comprehensive.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post is reporting that our own FDA is continuing to ignore their scientific advisors and the available data about bisphenol A. They announced earlier this week that they have no plans to amend their position on BPA, but will continue to study its effects. 130 studies have been done so far that link the plastics additive to breast cancer, obesity, diabetes, neurological problems and other disorders.