FACTS, FADS AND FRAUDS IN NUTRITION 13 



1. PROPRIETARY FOODS CONTAINING CATHARTIC DRUGS 



The Food and Drug Administration regards phenolphthalein or any other 

 such laxative drug as an adulterant when it is used as an ingredient of a food. 

 They say that "a powerful coal-tar cathartic has no proper place in bread or 

 any other product sold as a food." In this respect Ownen's Original Laxative 

 Health Bread, Viti-Veg, has been criticised by the Food and Drug Adminis- 

 tration (N.J. 25587) as well as by medical authorities. » « 



2. THE LAXATIVE VALUE OF FOODS CONTAINING CELLULOSE OR 

 OTHER FORMS OF BULK 



Constipation due to stagnation or lack of bulk will frequently yield to regular 

 habits and ample roughage. On the other hand, constipation may be due to 

 causes other than those of dietary or roughage origin. Medical authorities i 9 

 advise that cases of constipation not yielding to the regular use of foods pro- 

 viding considerable roughage should be under the care of a competent physician. 



The laxative value of wheat bran is due to its fiber content. Any whole-grain 

 cereal, vegetable, or fruit containing cellulose may contribute the necessary 

 bulk to the diet — the latter being less irritating than bran. 



Several varieties of prepared bran or bran cereals on the market have been 

 criticised for too sweeping statements made regarding their laxative value. 20 ' 21 

 Some people following the advice of such advertising have ingested more fiber 

 or cellulose than their systems could tolerate and the resulting injury has 

 brought condemnation to bran. Bran is not a cure-all but it may be used in 

 moderation by those who need additional bulk in their diet. Scientific ob- 

 servations on the laxative action of bran may be consulted for more detailed 

 information. 22 ' 2S 



AIDS TO DIGESTION AND PREDIGESTED FOODS 



Foods which are easily digested cannot be said to aid in the digestion of 

 other foods. Partially digested or predigested foods are of questionable value 

 because the carbohydrate ingredient is the one usually concerned in such 

 proprietary products and this very carbohydrate portion of our food is the 

 least likely to need predigesting. Claims regarding aids to digestion, or natural 

 digestive elements are also unwarranted. 



The normal person is able to digest the constituents of common foods unaided 

 by artificial means. Any child or adult can digest starch. Saliva swallowed 

 with the food is more potent for digesting starch than any food containing 

 malt or malt extract. Foods containing diastase do not aid in the "digestion 

 of other foods" and have no action whatever on proteins and fats. 



Beware of products claiming to be "predigested" or "aids to digestion." 

 The misleading statements are easily recognized when one knows the ear- 

 marks 24 — "a special food property that has the power to aid in the digestion 

 of starch foods," "increases digestibility," "a predigested complete food," 

 "especially good for growing children." 



Committee on Foods. J.A.M.A. 10k, 1708, 1935. 



Council on Foods. J.A.M.A. 107, 874, 1936.^[ 



Committee on Foods. J.A.M.A. 10k. 1604, 1935. 



Council on Foods. J.A.M.A. 107, 1303, 1936. 



Cowgill, G. R., et al. J.A.M.A. 98, 1866, 1932; 100, 795, 1933. 



Rose, M. S., et al. Jour. Amer. Diet. Ass. 8, 133, 1932. 



Committeee on Foods, J.A.M.A. 97, 1798, 1931; 105, 120, 1270, 1271, 1935. 



