This piece first appeared in the New York Post.

Introduction
As the year draws to a close, some of us will be reminded that olde acquaintance should not be forgot. So, before we can officially commence the New Year, the American Council on Science and Health would like to reflect upon this year past. We d especially like to spend an extra moment considering what we hope the world will eventually learn to forget the most unfounded health scares of 2007.

This piece first appeared on HuffingtonPost.com.
Be careful!

New York, NY -- December 19, 2007. Americans are constantly bombarded with alarming news about the dangers of the everyday products they encounter as consumers. In order to shine light on the health fear frenzy portrayed by the media, the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) has published The Top Ten Unfounded Health Scares of 2007, a roundup of the most frightening and prominent -- but groundless -- health scares in the media this year.

December 10, 2007: A Nice Note of Support, a Less Than Nice Flu Season
- Quote to Note: "I've been a constant reader of [ACSH's website], loving every minute, learning valuable information, finally agreeing with something I read about science/health, and rolling my eyes at the rabid misinformation out there with the knowledge of how much this costs me and ignorant or scared people everywhere." --Anthony, a fan of ACSH.

At last, there is a reliable source of information to help us differentiate real health threats from alarmist nonsense. The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) has researched and published a reliable reference to help the consumer discern the comparative risk of dying from various illnesses, behaviors and exposures. On our new website, Riskometer.org, a simple graphic-illustration diagram of relative threat magnitudes is accompanied by clear text and references to source material.

ACSH's newly-launched Riskometer.org site, offering clear graphic representations of the (drastically varying) relative risk of death from different bodily causes and external hazards, has already gotten attention and praise, including links from:
Freakonomics' Freak-est Links section (last week)
Seed Magazine
Wes Phillips

A Seed magazine Daily Zeitgeist post from December 11, 2007 lists ACSH's Riskometer among items of note:

Riskometer. Gauge your risk.

California may once again target innocuous beverages -- caffeine-containing sodas and energy drinks -- for labeling with the dreaded Proposition 65 warning label. According to an Associated Press article, a California advisory board is calling for a study to determine if such beverages pose a risk to pregnant women.

Now even Christmas trees have carcinogen warnings. And that's bad for public trust in science.