Editor:

Natural and artificial flavors and colors in most commercial foods are not what they seem to be. The flavor companies manipulate chemicals to produce certain smells, tastes and moods. There is no food actually used. This is a very dangerous trick for the consumers of these products.

They create flavors for potato chips, pet food, French fries, ice cream, pastries, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, candy, gum, sports drinks, energy bars, protein drinks, soy products, meats, most prepared foods, toothpaste, mouthwash and nearly everything.

Could the severe health problems we are seeing today be caused by the chemical additives in our food? In my family alone we have: lupus, Crohn's, dyslexia, diabetes, Tourette's, schizophrenia, cancer, celiacs, TVS, ADHD, homosexuality, sickle cell anemia, birth defects. Many of these diseases did not exist 60 years ago.

The FDA does not require the food industries to disclose the ingredients in flavorings and colorings. They just call them "natural or artificial." There is absolutely no proof that these are safe. We are being deceived.

Carma Jenkins

Centerville