2004Q-0151
  

  
Qualified Health Claim (QHC):  soy protein and cancer
  


  

  

  


  

  
FDA Comment Number : 
  

  
EC628
  



  

  
Submitter : 
  

  
Mrs. Jody Franks
  

  
Date & Time: 
  

  
05/06/2005 02:05:44
  



  

  
Organization : 
  

  
Mrs. Jody Franks
  



  

  
Category : 
  

  
Individual Consumer
  



  

  
Issue Areas/Comments 
  


  

  


  

  
GENERAL
  


  

  



  

  
GENERAL
  


  

  



  

  
 April 10, 2005

Tomoko Shimakawa, Sc.D.

Division of Nutrition Programs and Labeling

Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling

and Dietary Supplements

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Food and Drug Administration

5100 Paint Branch Parkway, HFS-830

College Park, MD 20740-3835

Re: Docket: 2004Q-0151 - Qualified Health Claim: Soy Protein and Cancer 

Dear Dr. Shimakawa: 

I am writing to protest the proposed soy-protein-prevents-cancer health claim and to request that the FDA hold a public hearing on this matter.

Approval of this health claim would double the sales of soy foods in this country, bringing enormous profits to the soy and food processing industries while putting me, my family and most of the American public at risk. 

I personally experienced hypothyroidism, digestive distress, and possibly weakened muscles and ligaments from using soy products.  Two years after I began using soy products on a regular basis, I needed medication for my low-functioning thyroid.  Four years after using soy products, I needed a hysterectomy.  I have always strived to live a health-conscious life, not smoking or drinking, and went to college on athletic scholarships. My recovery from this surgery was slow?six weeks afterwards there were still sutures, unhealed, in my abdomen.  I went to a different medical doctor who told me about the dangers of soy and who urged me to change my diet.  Since changing my diet and excluded soy products, I am feeling significantly more healthy and active.  I no longer use the soymilk products and soy energy bar products and avoid all foods made with any type of soy. 

I am deeply troubled by the prospect of a soy protein/cancer health claim for the following reasons:

? There is no consensus among experts that soy prevents cancer. 

? Substantial evidence exists showing that soy can contribute to or even cause cancer, including breast cancer. 

? Cancer statistics and epidemiological studies suggest that soy protein consumption might contribute to lower rates of some types of cancer but to higher rates of other types of cancer. 

? The plant estrogens (isoflavones) contained in soy protein products can cause thyroid damage, reproductive disorders and other endocrine disruption. 

? Soy is one of the top eight allergens, and its increased presence in the food supply would jeopardize the health and lives of many Americans. 

? Several subsets of the population are at special risk, including people suffering from hypothyroidism and cancer. 

For the above reasons, I urge the FDA to hold a public hearing on soy protein and to reject the proposed qualified soy-prevents-cancer health claim. 

Thank you, 

Jody Franks


  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  








  

  
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