An article by Sara Solovitch in the December 19, 2005 Los Angeles Times on California's lawsuit against foods containing acrylamide included a quote from ACSH president Dr. Elizabeth Whelan -- and followed it with what may the public health overstatement of the year:
"Your attorney general has singled out French fries and potato chips, which reveals that something else is going on here," says Elizabeth M. Whelan, president of the American Council on Science and Health, a consumer advocacy group that receives funding from the food industry.
"There's a huge list of foods containing acrylamide, including bread and olives. Maybe he decided he didn't want people to eat these so-called junk foods."
[California Assistant Attorney General Edward] Weil denies any hidden agenda. "It's a convenient rationalization to say that it's an anti-junk food crusade, but it just isn't the case," he says. "We're picking the biggest hazard the way you do in most safety issues."
