Blt-iancaster Faming, Saturday, January 31,1987
New FDA labeling Requirements Mean Added Safety For Asthmatics
UNIVERSITY PARK - Asth
matics who are trying to avoid
sulfite-treated foods will have
some help beginning this month,
when the Food and Drug Ad
ministration starts requiring
labels on those foods.
Sulfites, which are used in some
foods and alcoholic beverages as
preservatives, can cause allergic
reactions ranging from mild to
severe, according to Manfred
Kroger, professor of food science
in Penn State’s College of
Agriculture. People with asthma
NEWARK, Del. - The fourth
annual Delaware Horse Expo set
for Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Hartly
Fire Hall will include an all-day
educational program, a used tack
and equipment sale and an arts
and crafts contest with a horse
Cattlewomen Honor Debbie Mather
ITHACA, N.Y. - Debbie Mather
of Marcellas was named “Cat
tlewoman of the Year” Jan. 10
during the annual convention of the
New York cattlewomen at the
Sheraton Inn here.
She was cited for her years of
service to the New York Cat
tlewomen, including serving as
secretary/treasurer for six years
as president in 1984 and 1985, and
currently as recording secretary.
She was chairman of the 1986
Empire Farm Days Beef Bar
becue, and with her husband, Jim,
was co-chairman of the same fund
raising project for the New York
Cattlewomen and the New York
Beef Cattlemen’s Association from
1981-1983. She was also chairman
of the Cattlewomen’s State Fair
exhibit for four years.
She is employed as an aide at the
Marcellus Central School. Her
husband is a beef and dairy farmer
and the family also raises horses,
which they show at the county and
state fair. The couple has four
children, Kristy, Andy, Jeff and
Amy.
The New York Cattlewomen
heard reports of the many 1986
activities and made plans for 1987
projects. Mrs. Eleanor Carlson of
Wyoming was named chairman of
the New York Beef Recipe Contest
AGRICULTURE
are particularly at risk, especially
those who are taking steroid drugs
to control their illness. Other
people need not be concerned, he
said.
Under the new FDA regulations,
which took effect Jan. 9, processed
foods that contain 10 parts per
million or more of sulfites will
have to identify sulfite in their
ingredient listings.
As of August of 1986, fresh fruits
and vegetables (with the exception
of potatoes) cannot be treated with
sulfites, Kroger said.
Delaware 4-H Horse
theme.
Sponsored by the Delaware 4-H
Horse Advisory Committee and the
Delaware Cooperative Extension
System, the event is scheduled
from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Club,
breed and commercial exhibits
and will announce details of the
competition soon. Mrs. Irene
Andersen of Long Eddy will be
chairman of the annual Beef For
Father’s Day promotion.
Lisa Hauman of Penn Yan will
serve a second year as Beef
Ambassador. She was given a $5O
savings bond in appreciation of her
work as Ambassador for 1986.
Elaine Swiler of Cameron was
named the Cattlewomen’s delegate
to the New York Farm City Council
annual meeting Jan. 30 at Cor
tland. New York Cattlewomen
president Eldora Benson of Pot
sdam will attend the' annual
meeting of the American National
Cattlewomen in Denver later this
month. She has been named
chairman of the Region I con
sumer relations committee.
Emphasis this year will be
placed on encouraging mem
bership of all women involved in
the state’s beef industry. “Our
dues are only $3 a year but we do
need membership numbers if we
are to do an effective job in con
sumer education and product
promotion that will benefit all
producers,” Mrs. Benson said. She
said 1987 dues of $3 should be sent
to Fay Briggs, CR 210, Deposit,
N.Y. 13754.
mp
Sulfites commonly had been
used on salad bars to keep
vegetables fresh and unwilted.
However, even with the new ban on
sulfites in fresh produce, con
sumers should be aware that other
items on salad bars such as potato
salad, canned vegetables and
fruits, pickled vegetables, pickles
and olives may still contain the
chemicals.
Only recently have scientists
become aware of the allergic
reactions sulfites can cause,
Kroger said. “It is said now that
Expo Set For Fab. 14
will be included.
The Horse Expo is open to
anyone interested in horses as a
hobby or a career and in horseback
riding as a form of recreation or
competitive sport.
The Expo morning session will
include talks on nutrition, signs
and treatment of colic, hunter
equitation and the management
and sale of horses.
During the lunch break, from
11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m., a “Horse
Bowl” patterned after the “College
Bowl” program will be held.
Teams made up of youth groups
such as 4-H, Pony Club and FFA
will answer horse-related
questions.
The afternoon session will in
clude a discussion of taxes and
horsemen, breaking and training
the young horse and hay and
pasture management. The day
long program will conclude with a
talk titled “Why Own a Horse” by
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about 10 people have died because
of sulfites that were used in
restaurants,” he said. “The first
death was recorded only two years
ago. Even in the 10 cases we now
have, the causes of half of them are
disputed.”
More commonly, sulfites cause
allergic reactions such as dif
ficulty in breathing and hives.
Almost always the person affected
has asthma, Kroger said.
Estimates of the number of
asthmatic Americans range from
180,000 severe cases up to 10
Jay Mele, a trainer and breeder of
paint and quarter horses in
Whitinsville, Mass.
Used tack, show clothing, boots
and other equipment in good repair
will be offered for sale throughout
the day. Prizes in various age
categories will be awarded in the
arts and crafts contest, which will
include fine arts and photography.
Some of these arts and crafts will
be offered for sale.
Pre-registration for the all-day
event is $2 for youths and $5 for
adults. Registration at the door
will be $3 for youths and $7 for
adults.
To register, send a check
payable to the Delaware 4-H Horse
Advisory Committee to the State 4-
H Office, Townsend Hall,
University of Delaware, Newark,
DE19717-1303.
For further information, contact
the state 4-H office at (302 ) 451-
2509.
* MM*?*
"A ‘
million, of whom about one million
may be sensitive to sulfites to some
degree.
Not every sulfite-containing
product has been regulated so far,
Kroger said. Potatoes are not
under the current ban on fresh
products, but probably will be
added this year, he said. Sulfites
are also found in beer, wine,
cocktail mixes and wine coolers.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms plans to issue
labeling regulations for them later
in 1987, Kroger said. Alcoholic
beverages are not regulated by the
FDA.
As many as 1,100 medications
also contain sulfites. “Ironically,
even some asthma medications
contain sulfites,” Kroger said.
Other drugs that could contain
them include anti-nausea
medicine, painkillers, antibiotics
and steroids. Most are intravenous
or spray-type products; very few
are oral medications. The FDA
already requires lists of all
ingredients on injectable
prescription products, and is ex
pected to write regulations for
drugs prescribed for oral use this
year.
Kroger said many people who
are allergic to sulfites don’t know
it. Their reactions to the chemicals
could depend on the food they are
eating, the dose of sulfite and the
allergic state they are in at the
time, he said.
More so than others, people with
food allergies and sensitivites
must know their body reactions,
read food labels and leam about
what’s in the food they eat, Kroger
said.
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