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TIME: Almanac 1990
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1990 Time Magazine Compact Almanac, The (1991)(Time).iso
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041789
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04178900.051
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1990-09-17
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LETTERS, Page 6IS ANYTHING SAFE?
Although the ban on Chilean fruit may have been an overreaction
(NATION, March 27), it is proof that the American Government is
deadly serious about the well-being of its citizens. In fact, every
government leader should ask the question: If, out of millions of
grapes checked, two are found in my country containing cyanide, do
I care?
Cui Baoyin
Spokane
Your story concludes that the Food and Drug Administration
overreacted because, ultimately, little cyanide was actually found.
But if 10,000 poisoned grapes had been discovered, we would all be
hailing the agency's quick response. Until the FDA conducted its
tests, there was no way of knowing how much poison there was.
Jim Musumeci
Athens, Ga.
As a Chilean living in the U.S., I believe the FDA's actions
were a colossal mistake. Chileans have been left frustrated and
indignant. The ban on grapes was a blow to the economy of this
small country. The reputation of its fruit has been hurt, and will
take years to restore.
Willy Vio
Edmonds, Wash.
Motherhood and apple pie have been sacred in the past. Now
Meryl Streep has turned mothers against apple pie, warning us of
carcinogens in our produce just when Americans should be eating
more fruits and vegetables.
Dan Halcomb
Reno
We are unable to stem the tide of thousands of illegal aliens
slipping into the U.S., but we can detect two grapes trying to
enter our country. Has anybody thought about putting a grape
inspector in charge of the Border Patrol?
Randall A. Forselius
Denver
The reference to mayonnaise being "among the most dangerous
foods to leave out" unrefrigerated should be qualified and
corrected so as to differentiate clearly between commercial
mayonnaise and the homemade variety. Commercial mayonnaise is
prepared under strict quality controls; acidulants and salt are
added in amounts that prevent food poisoning. However, commercial
mayonnaise is frequently mixed with other foods that do support the
growth of hazardous bacteria. Refrigeration of such mixed foods is
prudent. Homemade mayonnaise, not subject to the same quality
control as its commercial counterpart, should be prepared carefully
and stored in the refrigerator.
Douglas L. Archer, Director
Division of Microbiology
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Washington
The Chilean farmers have my sympathy and the bureaucrats my
disdain.
Maurice Peter Joffe
Boston
I observed a woman crush out her cigarette in the parking lot
and then enter a supermarket and demand that the apples be free of
the chemical Alar!
Nanci Alexander
Columbus