Retail CW VIII 8/01 - Whitford Corp

What You Should Know AboutAlzheimer’s Disease And AluminumThe controversy over aluminumcookware and Alzheimer’sDisease has many people confused.Here are the facts, excerptedfrom “Commonly Asked QuestionsAbout Aluminum and Alzheimer’sDisease”, published by The AluminumAssociation. Please note: This pamphlethas been favorably reviewed bythe American Academy of FamilyPhysicians.Question: Can you tell me if beveragesand other food products packagedin aluminum are safe?Answer: Products in aluminumpackages are safe. Aluminum is usedin many medicines and food additiveswith the approval of the U.S. Foodand Drug Administration. Aluminumbeverage and food cans have a polymercoating, so the product and packagedon’t come in contact with each other.Question: Does cooking in aluminumpans increase my exposure toaluminum and increase my chances ofgetting Alzheimer’s disease?Answer: Your aluminum cookwareis safe. Research shows thatvery little aluminum is added to foodsthrough cooking. Consumer Reports saysthere is no persuasive evidence thataluminum absorbed from cookwareplays any role whatever in causingAlzheimer’s. What’s more, The FDAhas “no information at this time thatthe normal dietary intake of aluminumis harmful”. Similar statements havebeen published in the Harvard HealthLetter and Clinic Health Letter.Question: If aluminum productsare safe, why do I keep hearing aboutaluminum causing Alzheimer’s disease?Answer: A connection was hypothesizedin the 1970s, when a Canadianresearcher published results of ananalysis indicating that Alzheimer’svictims had elevated amounts of aluminumin their brains. Subsequentresearch has not substantiated the initialfindings; yet the perceptionremains.Consumers identify with aluminumproducts, such as cookware, beverragecans, antiperspirants and antacids.Aluminum is the third most abundantelement in the earth’s crust; in the airwe breathe and the water we drink.You should know that the Alzheimer’sAssociation, the NationalInstitute of Health and numerous reputablemedical sources have issuedstatements that there is insufficientevidence to establish a connection betweenaluminum and Alzheimer’s.Question: Isn’t the aluminumindustry concerned about all this?Answer: Yes, the industry is concernedabout the tragedy of Alzheimer’sand allegations that aluminumproducts may somehow be connected.The industry, through The AluminumAssociation, has sponsored researchfor more than 10 years, both into thecauses of Alzheimer’s disease andpossible connections to aluminum.While many doctors, leading scientistsand Alzheimer’s researcherstell us that aluminum products aresafe, the industry believes thatresearch into the possible causes ofAlzheimer’s should continue until thecause and cure are found.FrequentlyAsked QuestionsQuestion: “Why are most nonstickcoatings dark in color?”Answer: “There are several reasonsfor the dark color of most of thenonsticks you see.“First, nonstick coatings are primarilyorganic and, therefore, subjectto some staining, especially fromfoods such as mustard, catsup,tomatos (which are rich in color) anddairy products such as milk andcheese, which are high in proteinsand tend to burn, leaving a discolorationbehind.“Second, any pigments used innonsticks must be on the FDA’s list ofapproved substances (and manystandard colorants are not approvedfor use with food).“Third, some pigments (yellows,greens) simply do not withstand theheat of normal cooking temperatures,tending to discolor.”Send questions with your name,address to: Fran Attilio, WhitfordCorp., Box 2347, West Chester, PA19380-0110, call (718) 967-7967 oremail: fattilio@whitfordww.com.Coming in future issues:• The outside story: Decorativecoatings and how to use them.•Atotally different kind of coating:“Soft Touch”.CoatingWorld is published by WhitfordWorldwide, Box 2347, West Chester, PA 19380-0110. Email: sales@whitfordww.comWeb: www.whitfordww.com