<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

The following was posted by Mark Gold <[log in to unmask]> in the newsgroups:

             CONSUMER ALERT REGARDING FDA RULES CHANGE:

                     FDA DOCKET NO. 96N-0149


         PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO THE FDA ADDRESS BELOW
         SO THEY WILL BE RECEIVED BEFORE SEPTEMBER 10, 1996

                  IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NEEDED

TO: Docket No. 96N-0149, Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305)
    FDA, 12420 Parklawn Drive, Room 1-23
    Rockville, MD  20857
                              or
FAX:  (301) 594-3215

Every person who has reason to avoid ANY food is at risk from
"flavor(s)" and "flavoring(s)". The FDA has asked for
comments on that subject. FDA wants comments relevent to
regulations discussed in the Federal Register; pages 9701-9708,
from June 12, 1996, "that would assist the agency (FDA) in
fulfilling its mission to protect the interest of consumers".

This advance notice, published in the Federal Register on
June 12, 1996, AND DISCOVERED ONLY RECENTLY, under the heading
"Food Standards; Certain Existing Regulations", is very
disturbing. We have just learned that although the heading gives
no indication of it, "Flavors" is one of the subjects about
which the FDA is requesting comments. The FDA plans to change
their labeling rules so that "natural" can be used, in many cases,
to replace "artifical". Aside from being extremely dangerous to
people with food sensitivities it only serves to confuse us more
than ever.

You are asked to write or fax the FDA at the address above
so your comments will be received BEFORE September 10, 1996. A
short appropriate comment would be, after citing the docket
number;

Docket No. 96N-0149 comments:
"As a consumer I want my food labeled so that other substances
cannot be hidden by misleading indicators such as; "Natural
Flavors" or "Artifical Flavors". If it contains Monosodium
Glutamate or any other flavor enhancers I want to know what
it is and how much."

Please modify your statement a bit so the FDA does not get the
exact words from all those who took the time to write their
concern. Government considers duplicate statements a single
response.

The FDA currently allows manufacturers to use the terms;
"flavor(s)" and "flavoring(s)" without disclosing to the
public what is in those "flavor(s)" and "Flavoring(s)".

At the present time, the terms "natural flavor(s)" and "natural
flavoring(s)" may include: "essential oil, oleoresin, essence of
extractive, protein hydroylsate, distillate, or any product of
roasting, heating or enzymolysis that contains the flavoring
constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice,
vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud,
root, leaf, or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry,
eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose
significant  function in food is flavoring rather than
nutritional"; WITHOUT DISCLOSURE OF ANY OF THOSE INGREDIENTS.

Any person who is allergic or sensitive to any item listed
above, or any person who believes that the consumer has the
right to know what is in food, should be outraged that the FDA
is  proposing to clairfy the distinction it makes between
"natural" and "artificial" flavor(s) and flavoring(s)  instead
of eliminating use of the terms "flavor(s)" and "flavoring(s)"
as hiding places for potentially harmful ingredients.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

The FDA Information Contact is:

Corinne L. Howley, Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-24). FDA, 200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C 20204   (202) 205-4272

Thank you from the No MSG Maryland Chapter!
http://www.infi.net/~h0814/fdalert.txt