US Tea Council tries to downplay fluoride dangers

[admin]

First Posted: 16 Mar 2006 10:28 pm

March 16, 2006

Below are several items forwarded to the PFPC today, highlighting how the US Tea Council intends to deal with the impending NRC review. The NRC report is to be released on Wednesday, March 22, 2006.

Not surprisingly, the US Tea Council once again describes fluoride as a "nutrient", and further uses the faulty DRI figures published a few years ago to bolster its position.

For details on the DRI figures, please see:
http://www.rvi.net/~fluoride/s03.htm#cooking-1

For more info on fluoride in tea, please see:
http://bruha.com/pfpc/html/tea.html

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1) Memo from: US Tea Association
<mailto:info@...><info@...>
Sent: Mar 9, 2006 2:19 PM

Subject: Tea & Fluoride Position Papers

To All Members:

A government office which is part of the National Academy of
Sciences is about to publish a report on Fluoride. While the report is
focused on Fluoride in drinking water and is reviewing EPA's
Standards, it may prompt inquiries from consumers, the media, and
other concerned groups about the Fluoride content of tea.

In anticipation of that possibility, the Tea Council of the USA has
commissioned an independent scientific assessment of the amount of
Fluoride in tea. Based on the findings of this group of experts, we
have prepared a series of documents which are attached to this
alert. Please review these documents as they contain the very best
information available. In summary, the findings state that even
heavy tea consumption (ten cups of tea per day) poses no risk to
health even after all other sources of Fluoride in the typical USA
diet are considered. This information will also be posted on our
website for your ready reference. We are also attaching a summary
of the latest health benefits attributed to tea.

As usual, it is our strong recommendation that any media inquiries
on this subject be directed to me at the Tea Association for response.
Dealing with the media is tricky especially with subjects that are
potentially damaging to the industry.

Please direct any questions that you may have to my attention.

Joe Simrany, President
Tea Association of the USA, Inc.
Tel. 212-986-9415
Fax. 212-697-8658
<mailto:simrany@...>simrany@...
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2) Recommended Media Strategy

National Research Council's report:
"Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Review of EPA's Standards"
March 2006 release


There is a possibility that the expected March 2006 release of the
National Research Council's (NRC) report on "Fluoride in Drinking
Water: A Review of EPA's Standards" may prompt media interest in tea
and fluoride. Should you be contacted by anyone from the media,
please direct all calls to Joe Simrany at the Tea Council of the
USA.

We have prepared a media statement that communicates the health
benefits of tea by citing the "preponderance of evidence from
credible, published research" that indicates tea drinkers have a
reduced risk of certain chronic diseases, including heart disease
and some cancers. Fluoride in tea is a naturally occurring nutrient
that is also present in a number of other common plant-based foods.
Rather than address any alleged health risk associated with fluoride
in tea, the statement emphasizes the newest research (Cantox)
commissioned by the Tea Council which shows U.S. consumption of tea
for male/female adults is "well below" the Tolerable Upper Level
Intake Levels set by government health organizations. Based on the
data used in the analysis, it would take approximately 10 cups or
more of tea per day to exceed the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels
specified by the Dietary Reference Intakes.

Over the next few months, we will closely monitor media coverage of
the fluoride issue and, when it occurs, tea and fluoride. When it
is warranted, we will issue the media statement. The media statement
may also be adapted for use with consumers on an as needed basis.

Our goal is to insure that Tea Association member company's brands
are not linked with this issue and to reassure the public that tea
is not only safe, but a valuable part of a healthy diet. We also seek
to avoid drawing our industry into the decades-long debate about
fluoride and its uses in the U.S. water supply.
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3) Media Statement

National Research Council's report:
"Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Review of EPA's Standards"
February 2006


A multitude of research studies suggest that drinking tea can be
included as part of a healthy diet and may contribute to overall
health. Studies have found that tea drinkers have a reduced risk of
certain chronic diseases, including heart disease and some types of
cancer.

Leading international and U.S. public health organizations such as
the National Academy of Sciences, American Cancer Society and the
Food and Agricultural Organization of the World Health Organization,
support Tea's healthfulness. The Tea Council of the USA feels
confident in assuring consumers that, when consumed as part of a
healthy diet, tea poses no health risk.

Tea is a source of naturally occurring nutrient fluoride. The Tea
Council of the USA commissioned a leading scientific research firm
to analyze the nutrient fluoride intake from tea in the U.S. adult
population. The goal of this analysis was to determine whether
fluoride intake from tea falls within the Dietary Reference Intake
Values for Fluoride published by the Standing Committee on
Scientific Evaluation of the Dietary Reference Intakes (Food and Nutrition
Board, Institute of Medicine). The analysis determined tea
consumption in the U.S. by male/female adults and assessed fluoride
intake from tea, using fluoride levels from the USDA Database on
Fluoride Content of Foods and Beverages (USDA 204).

The conclusion of the analysis: Tea intake in the U.S. is not
associated with excessive fluoride consumption. In fact, the
analysis determined that average dietary nutrient intake of fluoride
was well below the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels for fluoride for
adults. Based on the data used in the analysis, it would take
approximately 10 cups or more of tea per day to exceed the Tolerable
Upper Intake Levels specified by the Dietary Reference Intakes.
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4) TEA AND FLUORIDE
POSITION PAPER
February 2006

A multitude of research studies suggest that drinking tea can be
included as part of a healthy diet and may contribute to overall
health. Studies have found that tea drinkers have a reduced risk of
certain chronic diseases, including heart disease and some types of
cancer.

Beverages, including fluoridated water and drinks prepared from
fluoridated water (such as tea) are the principle contributors of
fluoride intake for most of the U.S. population. Because tea is the
second most widely consumed beverage worldwide after water, and is a
source of naturally occurring fluoride, the Tea Council of the USA
commissioned a leading scientific research firm to assess the
fluoride intake from tea. The goal was to determine that tea intake
in the U.S. adult population falls within the Dietary Reference
Intake Values for Fluoride recently published by the Standing
Committee on Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes
(Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine).

The analysis determined tea consumption in the U.S. by male/female
adults and assessed fluoride intake from tea, using fluoride levels
from the USDA Database on the Fluoride Content of Foods and
Beverages
(USDA 2004).

Because data published by the Standing Committee on the Scientific
Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes (Food and Nutrition Board,
Institutes of Medicine) was insufficient to determine an Estimated
Average Requirement nutrient intake for fluoride, Adequate Intake
(AI) levels were developed for use as a reference value. The AI was
based on estimated nutrient intakes of fluoride shown to reduce the
occurrence of dental caries maximally without causing unwanted side
effects.

The analysis determined that average dietary nutrient intake of
fluoride by adults living in fluoridated communities was well below
the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels for fluoride set for male/female
adults. This included those who averaged 1.5 to 2 cups of tea per
day (the mean average) and those who averaged 3 to 4 cups per day (the
90th percentile for high intake). The analysis determined that
fluoride intakes from tea by U.S. male and female adults are well
below the Tolerable Upper Level Intakes specified by the Standing
Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes.
Based on the data used in the analysis, it would take approximately
10 or more cups of tea per day to exceed the Tolerable Upper Intake
Levels specified by the DRI.

The conclusion of the analysis: Tea intake in the U.S. in not
associated with excessive fluoride consumption.

This analysis, coupled with the preponderance of research evidence
from leading international and U.S. public health organizations,
supports the Tea Council of the USA's position that when consumed as
part of a healthy diet, tea poses no health risks and may even
provide health benefits.