In a culture where words like "artificial," "synthetic," and "man-made" are often used as slurs and the masses increasingly applaud so-called natural healing, a revolution in what might reasonably be termed "unnatural healing" is proceeding almost full blast yet so quietly that the public has scarcely noticed it.

New York, NY February 1998. In a new report, New York City Public Advocate Mark Green has called lead poisoning a "dire problem" for the city's children. The New York City Advisory Council on Health Priorities, an affiliate of the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), has concluded, however, that for the majority of New York's children lead poisoning is a thing of the past. Mr.

New York, NY January 30, 1998. In a new report on pesticide residues on America's fruits and vegetables, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has twisted data and misinterpreted basic scientific information in a way calculated to provoke fear among America's parents. This was the conclusion of the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), a consortium of over 250 leading scientists and physicians.

New York, NY January 13, 1998. The American Council on Science and Health today pointed to the results of a new study confirming what those who have studied the safety of the new fat substitute olestra have long known: that eating chips fried in olestra does not cause adverse gastrointestinal effects as olestra's now-discredited, highly vocal critics have been claiming.

When they do a good job at reporting the facts, magazines can help consumers to adopt healthier eating practices. But misleading magazine reports can be counterproductive ("...what you eat can have a direct chemical effect on whether you're happy, sad, irritable, moody, alert, calm or sleepy") or misleading ("In many cases, diet alone could be the cause of and thus the solution to waning energy levels or plummeting moods"). Both of the foregoing quotes are from a popular women's magazine; such messages complicate learning and set consumers up for disappointment.

A report by Mark Green, Public Advocate of the City of New York
Mark Green, the Public Advocate of the City of New York, recently released a report entitled Lead & Kids: Why Are 30,000 NYC Children Contaminated? The document reviews the issue of lead exposure in New York City and provides support for the proposed Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill (Int. 956).

Every day more than 5,500 Americans turn 65 and officially become senior citizens. For many of these people, the years ahead will bring significant changes: changes in their social roles, in their family lives, in their health concerns, and though they may not realize it in their nutritional needs and priorities. Many seniors are, of course, healthy, relatively independent, and well nourished. Some older adults, however, are beset with accumulating medical, performance, and social problems that can make adequate nourishment difficult.

Last week The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) circulated a press release (enclosed) lauding television host Rosie O'Donnell for turning down an offer to become a spokesperson for Frito-Lay's "Wow" chips. CSPI is campaigning against the right of consumers to purchase snack foods that, like "Wow," contain the FDA-approved fat substitute olestra.

Americans can have a positive impact on their health and well-being by following some simple lifestyle pointers recently published by the American Council on Science and Health. ACSH, a consortium of over 250 physicians and scientists explains in this pamphlet that not smoking, avoiding driving while drinking alcohol, and having appropriate medical tests, among other tips, can go far toward improving and maintaining anyone's personal health.

Lead poisoning is often cited as the number one environmental health concern for children. A panel of physicians and scientists affiliated with the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) has concluded, however, that for the majority of American children, lead poisoning is a condition of the past.