Document Y9kbeNKVV3Q83EGV9mKQ2NQZ0

A-12 With Sunday Morning Edition Publiihod by THE EVENING STAR NEWSPAPER CO., Woihington, D. C. CSOSSY N. IOTO, CtetoMn ! th, teeid JOHN H. KAUttMOWW; ProilUoM NIWIOLD NOYIS. Hit" THURSDAY, OCTOIM 14, 1971 Last June, the FderLawdDrug Ad ministration found potentially dangeroue coneenttatlone of the Induetrlal chamteal polyahlorlnatad dlthenyl In a variety of dried food producte, including tome baby cereala. No public announce ment of tbe dleeovery wae made until thlt month, when It waa revealed by Representative William F. Ryan. Ryan coupled hie revelation with a eaetlgatlon of the FDA tor ehowlng "more concern about the Image of American Industry, rather than the public." The Congressman has a point. In defense of the FDA It should be noted that the problem was not simply overlooked. The probable source Is Iden tified at the printing ink used In re cycled paper In which the foods were packaged; since June, PCS has been re moved from printing Ink. The FDA then had solved the problem for the future, so why risk a public slap and the possi bility of lasting damage to consumer confidence In the suspect food stuffs? . So there was some logic In the FDA's silence, but not enough to Justify It. The FDA did find PCB In amounts that It hat labeled unacceptable In other foods. PCB, a chemical cousin of DDT, has been Implicated m human death and disabili ty. The only valid action under tbs cir cumstances was a full public disclosure of the facts In Its possession without consideration for the reputation or the financial health of the packagers. The FDA It mistaken In ltt evident belief that the public Is prepared to panic at the mention of tainted food. And the public should be able to expect the unadulterated truth from agendas established for public protection. HONS 032542