Health Officials Respond To Vote on Saccharin Ban

The decision by the House of Representatives last Monday to impose an 18-month delay on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) ban on saccharin stemmed largely from constituent pressure, Dr. J. Winston, acting director of the Office of Health Policy Information, said yesterday.

The FDA was probably right to prohibit the use of saccharin as a food additive, Winston said, but added that he does not oppose the House action.

Rationality

"The issue has generated so much emotion that informed, rational debate is impossible now," he said. "The 18-month moratorium is a unique opportunity to educate the public on a complex subject. Time is on the side of rational thought on this issue."

The FDA directive banning saccharin came after Canadian studies showed that saccharin induced tumors in rats. Under the "Delaney Clause," an amendment to federal food and drug legislation, the FDA must declare unsafe any substance found to cause tumors when ingested by animals or man.

The ban would have taken effect on October 1, but FDA Commissioner Dr. Donald Kennedy '52 postposed the directive pending Congressional action.

FDA administrators "are disappointed" by the House's action, an FDA aide, who asked not to be identified said yesterday. "Based on animal studies and scientific extrapolation from those studies, we think the likelihood is very high that additional cases of bladder cancer will result from this delay in the ban," he added.

Public Interest

Although Congress has the power to intervene in regulation, it would be in the interest of public health for Congress to leave such decisions to the agency, the aide said.