Synthetic chemicals better than good ol’ natural food and pure water?
Book Review: “The Hundred-Year Lie”, by Randall Fitzgerald
Our health has been increasingly put at risk for years by toxins that are allowed to be poured into products we consume, and into our environment at large, by lax federal regulations pressured by the drive for profits by the major players of the synthetic industry. The Hundred-Year Lie is a compelling new (2006) book by journalist Randall Fitzgerald presenting stark evidence of the connection between our increased risk of chronic disease, and the increase in toxic contamination of our land, water, air, and food. Fitzgerald’s description of the relationship between the growth in power of the “Big 3″ components of the synthetic industry, and the decline in governmental protective oversight is both frightening and troubling.
What Eric Schlosser revealed about the power of big business in the fast food industry in Fast Food Nation, Randall Fitzgerald has equaled in exposing the impact of toxins on the environment, food, and physical health in The Hundred-Year Lie. Fitzgerald defines The Hundred-Year Lie as a century of deceit and misinformation by both the United States government and the synthetics industry regarding the safety and effectiveness of common synthetic products that we consume everyday.
In this powerful book, Fitzgerald describes the “Synthetic Revolution” and lists the “big 3″ of that revolution – the processed food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. These super-powers have convinced the population that synthetic products are just as safe as, and even more effective than naturally occurring goods. Driven by the economic principals of supply and demand, competition and profit motives, and protected by legislation, the author shows that these industries have been green-lighted to provide their own self-serving research results to the Federal Food and Drug Administration which then approves the public use of the products.
His findings included: 1) Most of our processed foods include toxins added to “improve” the taste, shelf life, and color, 2) our medical establishment and the pharmaceutical industry have created a dependence upon prescription drugs with high health risks and of questionable benefit, and 3) the chemical industry has created products, which, in combination, create toxic cocktails that have leached into our soil and water, and are subsequently absorbed by humans and animals alike with dire consequences. Hand in hand with these changes, Fitzgerald chronicles the history of federal agencies that have led the population to believe that they are safe, while allowing the proliferation of toxic substances in our environment.
The key concept around which the book is developed is that of synergy. Synergy is defined by Fitzgerald as “the simultaneous action of two or more chemicals (or processes) in which the total effect is much greater than the sum of their individual parts.” When considering toxins, synergy means that the combination of chemicals in our bodies, the soil, water, or air, results in much farther reaching repercussions than the individual materials themselves. According to Fitzgerald, the processed food, pharmaceutical and chemical companies ignore the concept of synergy, primarily looking at the effect of individual ingredients, drugs or chemicals on a specific symptom or outcome. By failing to investigate the interaction effects of the substance with other materials to which we are exposed, we are given a much rosier picture than exists in reality. For example, in the case of prescription drugs, you may have experienced that your physician has to prescribe additional medications to counteract the side effects of the original prescription. Fitzgerald also explores synergy as a positive phenomenon, describing primitive societies’ use of combinations of numerous, interacting, natural plant and herb extracts to treat an illness or disease, rather than one element for a specific symptom. He reports that through the blending of natural ingredients and proper nutrition, powerful results have been observed in managing the same disease processes the pharmaceutical offerings all-too-often exacerbate.
Randall Fitzgerald has spent 36 years, establishing himself as a newspaper author and magazine editor, and has authored 6 previous books. He was an investigative reporter for The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. What would lead an investigative journalist to delve into the brackish water of toxic contamination? Fitzgerald discloses that the alarming rate of illness and disease among members of his own family, friends and acquaintances sparked his interest in studying the subject of environmental toxins. Fitzgerald discovered an astonishingly large number of disease processes just within this relatively small circle of people. These few people experienced cancer, Crohn’s Disease, AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, diabetes, allergies and migraines. With this motivating awareness he turned his attention to the etiology of these diseases, and discovered that many were related to the presence of toxins in our food, water, household and industrial products, and, even our medicine.
The author describes the way he investigates any topic is with open-minded curiosity like that of an alien or a “stranger in a strange land”. He looks at the issue as though he were new to the planet, and tries to make sense of what trends or patterns he finds. Fitzgerald spent 9 months extensively reviewing newspaper articles, scientific reports, and related books on the subjects of disease epidemiology, etiology, industrial practices, and related legislation. He was shocked to discover that what we have been led to believe about medicine, food, and our environment by big business as well as our own government is far from the truth. Fitzgerald’s research into the growth of toxins in our society and the enormity of the problem left him feeling as though he truly was an alien on an unknown planet. He was appalled that the problem was so insidious and wide-spread. Fitzgerald lays out a history (starting with the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906) of the development of power and influence among the major players in the manufacturing and processing of foods, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals over the past 100 years . He also looked at the deteriorating health in our society during that period of time.
Fortunately, Fitzgerald does not leave us hopeless. He quotes from an interview with Dr. John Laseter, CEO of Accu-Chem Laboratory, a company that specializes in the detection and analysis of toxic chemical exposure and controlled substance possession and use. “It comes down to personal accountability…we are responsible for ourselves.” Fitzgerald goes on to suggest that it isn’t useful to blame authorities or institutions, industries, or government, or to engage in “finger-pointing”. We must get on with taking care of ourselves. He then outlines ways you can alter your lifestyle to minimize exposure to many of the toxins encountered. The Hundred Year Lie provides suggestions about how to create a healthier life, not only for yourself, but for your children.
The Hundred Year Lie is a fascinating and easy read. Fitzgerald ends on a positive note stating clear actions you and I can take to protect ourselves, and live in healthier ways. Although much of the information in the book is alarming, it is information that we need to make informed decisions to protect our health. I highly recommend this book.
