Fwd: NOTMILK - April Fools Day Joke, 2002

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Greetings:Even if you don't consume this product, pass this information on to those that you care for.Robert Cohen <notmilk wrote: notmilk From: "Robert Cohen" <notmilkSun, 26 Mar 2006 12:30:31 -0000NOTMILK - April Fools Day Joke, 2002 This is a replay of my 2002 April Fools Day column: Will Wonders Never Cease? On Sunday (3/31/2002), White Wave, the manufacturer of SILK soymilk and SILK chocolate soymilk issued a press release on the P.R. newswire announcing changes to their best-selling

soymilk formulas. SILK'S Mission Statement: "To creatively integrate healthy, natural soyfoods into the American diet." SILK'S president and founder, Steve Demos, said, "We're interested in promoting foods the world is better off with, not without." The press release contained a surprise announcement. Based upon new research, future SILK products will no longer contain carrogeenen or artificial flavors. http://biz./prnews/020331/ahctog-yadslooflirpa/.html Demos said: "We pride ourselves in producing the healthiest soymilk product in America, using safe organic ingredients for our discriminating consumers. It has come to our attention that carrageenan may not be safe, so we've decided to replace carrageenan with organic agar-agar." Demos recently opened his new state-of-the-art processing plant, where SILK will control all phases of the manufacturing process of

their soymilk, from grinding the beans to bottling the milk. Demos has also exercised his option to buy back the shares of White Wave stock that he sold to America's largest dairy processor, Dean Foods, in 1998. Demos now controls 100% of his original company. Demos also took the opportunity to comment about rumors that the cocoa in SILK chocolate milk is grown in nations in which slavery is legal. Demos said: "We will never knowingly purchase chocolate from any nation in which children are kidnapped and live in slavery. Ever. That would be unconscionable." How SILK Soymilk is Made Soybeans are added to a vat of water just as you might soak beans overnight to make them softer and easier to cook. The beans are then ground and added to steel drums in which water is added to form a paste. This process of pulverization separates the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into a product

that SILK refers to as "soy base." The soy base is shipped to a dairy processing factory in tanker trucks. Each truck contains 24,000 quarts of soy base. The soy base is unloaded into another vat where it is blended with water, artificial flavors (which SILK calls natural), and other ingredients (don't ask, they will not tell you). In order to kill the microscopic organisms and bacteria that have matured during this long grinding, storing, and shipping process, the entire product is then pasteurized. This kills the molds, yeasts, and bacteria. After heat treatment, SILK is then piped into holding tanks and filled into cartons. From start to finish, the SILK milk can take between two days and one week to reach your supermarket shelves. APRIL FOOLS! Most of today's column is not true. How SILK Soymilk is Made: That part is true. SILK still refuses to condemn slavery. All it would take Steve

Demos to do is pledge to not buy chocolate from the Ivory Coast, where children are kidnapped and enslaved. His refusal to do so is unfortunate. SILK still continues to process their soymilk with dairy manufacturers, and marks each carton of soymilk with the tiniest letters, DE (dairy equipment). SILK has not purchased back their stock from Dean Foods, and is in bed with the dairy industry, relying upon the milk industry for distribution and valuable supermarket slotting space. SILK has not changed their formula, opting to continue to use carrageenan, despite evidence that this substance that is removed from seaweed with powerful alkali chemicals may be hazardous to human health. Dr. Andrew Weil recently warned his readers about the dangers of carrageenan. He wrote: "Carrageenan can cause ulcerations and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract." SILK still does not recognize your right as a

consumer to know what you are drinking. While most companies list all ingredients on their packaging, SILK refuses to list their "natural" secret flavors. SILK is one very bad April Fool's joke. If you continue to drink their soymilk, the joke is on you. Robert Cohen http://www.notmilk.com