Once again, the FDA has sided with industry and against the public, in this case by concealing simple information that would allow people to easily avoid benzene in the drinks they give their children. Once people have this information, we are convinced that food and drink manufacturers will simply reformulate their products, as many already have done, and as FDA originally intended in 1990.

It's a major public health failing on (the FDA's) part, ... and we feel quite strongly that they need to aggressively look into the problem of mercury contamination of fish, expand the list of fish that women need to avoid and get this information out to the medical community and to women in a much more aggressive way.

They don't provide any data to substantiate their claim.

This information is not being adequately disseminated to pregnant women. If the food pyramid can't get it right, how can ordinary Americans?

Our concern is that this is a very unique chemical. It lasts, literally, for eternity, and now it has been determined to be a likely human carcinogen. That ranks it up there with DDT, PCBs and dioxin as a very serious hazard. It needs to be banned.

Benzene is a potent carcinogen that has no place in foods and drinks targeted to children. We urge the FDA to immediately issue a statement telling consumers which ingredients in foods and drinks can combine to form benzene.

We are very concerned that total fluoride exposure is not safe for children. EPA is relying on outdated science to support this increase in fluoride exposure, and in our view has not discharged its legal duty to thoroughly consider the effects of fluoride on infants and children, from all routes of exposure, based on a thorough review of the most recent peer-reviewed science.

We would like to see the parents use that as goal setting, whether it's from a student perspective, from the home or a school perspective where we can actually address this based on what our students needs are.

We know that these chemicals are toxic. And we know that they're exceeding the levels the government has set for these chemicals in water,

I think it's a very powerful tool for parents as well as kids. We know in our society right now that we have some real issues with obesity ... and maybe this will be the insight that will in turn make a difference.