The health dangers posed by chemical food additives—particularly aspartame and MSG—and ways to avoid them (or counteract their effects) are the subjects of this two hour-plus activist documentary that features testimony from a wide variety of people, including those (children and athletes among them) who suffered allergic reactions as a result of exposure to various toxins. Among other interviewees, the best-known are probably actor Larry Hagman, who sings the praises of a natural sugar substitute that he recommends in lieu of artificial sweeteners (but can only be sold as a nutritional supplement), and Noam Chomsky, who predictably assails corporate influence on federal drug regulation, as well as the media, the latter described as being complicit in the failure to inform the public honestly about the problems posed by additives. But the vast majority of interviewees here are either scientists who have staked out unconventional positions on the subject, or proselytizers of alternative dietary practices (at times lending an infomercial feel to the footage), and the film is preceded by a series of legal disclaimers, including the usual one that none of the recommendations should be construed as professional medical advice—doubtlessly a wise precaution. DVD extras include segments on Ritalin and the overmedication of children, the Nixon administration's hand in approving the sale of Diet Pepsi with Nutra-Sweet, natural substances that may negate the bad effects of sweeteners, and an FDA raid on a lab accused of distributing an unapproved food supplement. Uneven but often thought-provoking, this is a strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
Sweet Remedy: The World Reacts to an Adulterated Food Supply
(2006) 135 min. DVD: $25. Sound and Fury Productions (dist. by The AV Cafe). PPR. Volume 23, Issue 1
Sweet Remedy: The World Reacts to an Adulterated Food Supply
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