Page 2--Friday, June 2, 1978-The Michigan Daily
Public ignores cancer warnings
N
By The Associated Press
Joseph Rotondi stood before the
black-and-red sign in the supermarket,
read it slowly and then smiled, "I'll
take my chances. That is, until they
give me real proof saccharin is
dangerous."
For the New York City secretary,
drinking diet soda is worth the possible
cancer risk. And she is not alone, ac-
cording to a nationwide spot check by
the Associate Press yesterday, the first
day that stores selling saccharin
products were required by federal law
to post warnings that the foods may be
health hazards.
MOST CONSUMERS voiced cyn-
cism, nonchalance or confusion about
the new printed notices that tell shop-
pers, "Use of this product may be
hazardous to your health. It contains
saccharin which has been determined
to cause cancer in laboratory animals."
Only a few indicated they would give
up their favorite diet soft drinks or
snacks.
"The warning is fine, but it doesn't
bother me in the least," said Stuart H.
Bollman of Shreveport, La. "I can't see
it causing any genetic damage."
G. F. WILLIAMS, of Portland, Ore.,
said: "People like me who are older
will probably still buy it. We're in a
dilemma. The doctors say we can't eat
sugar, and now we shouldn't eat
anything with saccharin."
Ann Arbor groceries reported that
sales on diet goods have been unaffec-
ted by the saccharin warnings. Darrel
Durham, assistant manager of Food
Mart, said, "The warning is somewhat
ambiguous and people tend to ignore
it." He added that he had been contem-
plating putting a sign up that read,
"Entering this store is hazardous to
your health."
A worker at the Stop-N-Go food shop
also reported consistent sales on diet
goods. "The price on pop has gone up
and the sales haven't declined at all,"
she said.
THE MANAGER of the Big Ten Par-
ty store said sales of foods containing
saccharin had not faltered at all, and no
Abortion money denied to poor
customers had yet commented on the
warnings.
Frank Hott, a Peoria, Ill., store
manager, said he'd had the sign up
"about a month" and "I haven't had
one person say anything to me about it.
I don't think they pay any attention to
it.
"I believe the government is saying
that just about everything will kill you.
Tomorrow they'll probaly say, 'Don't
breathe."'
ONE OF THE few consumers
questioned who praised the signs was
Nancy McGee of Portland, Ore. "Lack
of knowledge on the part of the public
contributes to saccharin use,' she said.
"People should substitute honey and
fresh fruit if they want sweeteners."
Manufacturers of saccharin-
sweetened products appearedeunper-
turbed by the regulation. The Cum-
berland Packing Corporation in
Brooklyn, makers of Sweet 'n' Low,
reported that since the same warnings
were placed on individual packets Feb.
21, sales of the artificial sweetener have
increased.
At a Sherwin-Williams Co. plant in
suburban Cincinnati, 200-pound drums
of saccharin continued to roll off con-
veyors at about the same rate as before
last year's Canadian findings linking
See PUBLIC, Page II
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
volume LXXXViiI, No. 22-S
Friday, June2, 1978
is edited and managed by students at the University
of Michigan. News phone 764-0562. Second ctass
postage is paid at Ann Arbor, Michigan 480.
Published daily Tuesday through Sunday morning
during the University year at 420 Maynard Street,
Ann Arhor, Michigan 48109. Suhscription rates:
$t2 September through April ( semesters) $ 13hy
mail outsideAnnArbor.
Summersession published Tuesday throughSatur-
day morning. Subs c iption rates$.50 in Ann Ar
$7.50y mailtoutside Ann Arbor.
WASHINGTON (UPI) - Setting the
stage for another long battle with the
Senate, the House Appropriations
Committee yesterday approved a
massive money bill which does not in-
clude funding for abortions for poor
women except in life-threatening
situations.
The abortion language was added to a
bill providing funds for the Departmen-
ts of Labor and Health, Education and
Welfare (HEW) by an appropriations
subcommittee headed by Rep. Daniel
Flood (D-Pa.). It was approved by the
full committee without a word of
discussion on its merits.
REP. EDWARD Patten (D-N.J.)
made the only reference to a potential
House floor fight and a bitter battle
with the Senate in a legislative con-
ference committee. He predicted that
the controversial abortion section
might mean "100 hours" more work
before the issue is settled and the major
money bill approved.
The House language would prohibit
federally funded abortions for poor
women except when the life of the
mother would be endangered by
carrying the fetus to full term.
This is identical to the stance taken
by the House last year at the beginning'
of a six-month-long battle with the
Senate which has traditionally pushed
for more liberal abortion language.
THE ISSUE was settled in the closing
days of the last congressional session
when both chambers agreed on abor-
tion language that would allow abor-
tions for rape and incest victims who
report their attacks.
Also added were provisions allowing
abortions in situations where severe
physical health damage would result
from a full-term pregnancy.
This year's Labor-'HEW bill calls for
expenditure of nearly $58 billion in
fiscal 1979 to fund the various programs
under the two departments. This
represents an increase of about $5.4
billion over fiscal 1978 funding levels
and exceeds President Carter's budget
request by $643 million.
The majority of the money goes to
HEW.
The actual dollar total is likely to be
far higher since some $17.6 billion wor-
th of important programs were
deferred pending the passage of
authorization bills.
Rats may inhabit the crown of a
Pacific island coconut palm and not
descend to the ground for genera-
tions, according to National Geo-
graphic.
[rA nn nnoil M ~n-u1 l
1 IUD " " ---ll "
-I- lU ,---*
:4
Ann Arbor -- 1978!
Greek Festival
Thursday, June 1, Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3
GREEK FOCI PASTRY SALE
1 a.m. to Midnight 100) a.m. to Midnight
ENTERTAINMENT
Live Bouzouki Band f
I:00 p.m. to Midnight Day f}
Grecian Boutique Daily Prizes
Taverna
Evenang Admdssion:
$1.58 after6:30 p.m.
St. Nicholas
Greek Orthodox Church
1t4 N. Main S'tre t '\ o lo
"MUSTANG"
KAIKO MOTI
QECENT PINTS
JUNE 3 - JULY 1
Borders Book Shop Gallery
303 S. State Street
668-7652
Am n Arbor
t ne o heMsic of "Dino ethe Continentals"