FDA Home Page | Search FDA Site | FDA A-Z Index | Contact FDA

FDA News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
P07-25
Sun 1 Apr 2007

Media Inquiries:
R. Mesnier , 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA

Toxic Mold Causes Memory Loss, Judgment Effects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Inquiries: Roland Mesnier , 301-827-6242 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

Memory, Judgment Problems Blamed On Mold-Related Neuro-Toxin

Increasingly frequent situations of evident brain and nervous system deterioration have reached news reports and political discussion boards.  Examples of recent political controversy regarding Administration officials’ memories and recall include:

• Attorney General Gonzales’ omission of staffing discussions with political advisors
• VP Chief of Staff Lewis Libby’s confabulated details regarding press sources of classified origin
• VP Cheney’s own repeatedly amnestic responses regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq and links between El-Quaeda and Saddam Hussain

After recognizing the situation to be a tight aggregation of uncommon effects, an evaluation of a potential outbreak was initiated by the Epidemiology Intelligence Service (EIS is CDC’s non-covert investigation unit). Systematic assessment using routine public health measures of dietary and environmental exposures has revealed several potential toxicants, including well-recognized hazards with neurological toxidromes. Dietary histories evaluated for statistical association (retrospective case-control, chi-squared analysis) with those suffering neural / behavioral dysfunction revealed a high correlation to intake of a molded dessert containing gelatin, sour cream, canned fruit elements and Kool Whip® topping. (Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.)

Gelatin itself has been recognized as a potential toxic component of dessert and sauce elements in recent years. When the presence of gelatin was revealed in salad dressing for "vegetarian" salads, outcry was widespread among religious communities. More general alarm has been raised over this material when source animals are recognized as potential sources of prions or "Mad Cow Disease", associated with human risk for variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (vCJD). In the present situation, disease latency required identification of a more rapid cause (delay for vCJD is months-years; the White House cluster was characterized by only weeks after shared exposure). Mold effects have are an increasingly discussed hazard, and may provide an explanation.

Unlike most food items, molded gelatin is more likely to be served to a group and shared widely. Individual servings of gelatin salad or dessert are usually simple cubes, filled bowls or scooped servings. In celebratory communal settings however, gelatin molds are often created intentionally, combining decorative and culinary motives. These social situations for widespread gelatin consumption increase the molded desserts’ hazards, yielding greater public health impact than ordinary individual intake.

Historically, molded gelatin dishes (often from family recipes) have frequently been served in White House gatherings. Still available recipes include:

• Mrs. Truman’s Bing Cherry Mold (Salad)
• Mrs. Eisenhower‘s Frosted Mint Delight
• Clinton‘s family favorite Coca-Cola Jello Mold (with black glace cherries)
• Barbara Bush’s grandmother’s recipe for ring mold with horseradish, double cream, vegetables and mayonnaise

Recognizing that molding gelatin may increase the cumulative hazard to consumers, its increased popularity in conservative political circles has been evaluated. Apparently, the Eisenhower-like 1950‘s appeal resonates within the current Republican hierarchy, leading to expectations for similar trends of hula-hoops and poodle-skirts.

Specific protective interventions to reduce toxic effects from current recipes and serving instructions are still under development. Experts do agree that certain mold configurations are especially hazardous and capable of cerebral injury (see & click on attached images).

References:

1. ProMED: 05-FEB-07 PRO/AH/EDR> CJD (new var.) update 2007 (03)

2. ProMED: 30-JAN-06 PRO/AH/EDR> Dioxin, animal feed – Belgium

3. ProMED: 19-JAN-03 PRO/AH> BSE – Japan

4. Mesnier R, Malard C, All the Presidents’ Pastries: Twenty-Five Years in the White House, A Memoir, Flammarion (February, 2007, $16.47)

5. History of Jell-O; ‘The History Of The Wiggle’ www.kraftfoods.com/jello/explore/history/

For further information contact:
FDA Food Safety Hotline: 1-888-SAFEFOOD
FDA website: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov

####

What’s New

Update on Salmonella Outbreak and Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter
Counterfeit Photos: Peter Pan and Great Value Peanut Butter

FDA’s Pilot Program to Better Educate Consumers about Recalled Food Products

RSS Feed for FDA News Releases [what’s this?]

Get free weekly updates about FDA press releases, recalls, speeches, testimony and more.

FDA Home Page| Search FDA Site| FDA A-Z Index| Contact FDA| Privacy| Accessibility

Fool & Drug Admin Website Management Staff