The November 15, 2004 Philadelphia Inquirer article "Scientists Are in Dispute Over Acrylamide" by Virginia A. Smith quoted scaremongers such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest's Michael Jacobson on fears over acrylamide in foods, then quoted ACSH's Jeff Stier for a different perspective:
But over at the American Council on Science and Health, another consumer group, spokesman Jeff Stier described a public weary of "food scares" such as acrylamide.
"When you start telling consumers this is dangerous, that's dangerous, they start ignoring everything," he said. "They figure, 'I just got to live my life.' "
Some fast-food companies have been sued in California, with plaintiffs demanding "cancer hazard" labels on fries even as the research continues. The state's Proposition 65, a 1986 right-to-know law, requires warning labels on anything with known risks - from gas stations to liquor stores...