Use of insects for red dye in foods
Re: “Color in goods is beetle ‘juiced,”‘ May 10 news story.
I was dismayed to see that The Denver Post has perpetuated a common but indefensible entomology error in its article on the use of carmine as a natural red dye. The insects from which this product is derived are not beetles but instead scale insects (Dactylopius species) found on prickly pear cacti. It is more distantly related to a beetle – and different in appearance – than is an ant to a butterfly.
In my course at Colorado State University, I use the cochineal scale/beetle issue to illustrate how errors related to entomology frequently occur in news articles and on the Web. With the printing of this article, I will have one more example.
I would also take issue with the subject of the article, which I consider needlessly sensationalized. Although the article correctly points out that there are 35 cases where some allergic reaction from carmine is possibly suspected, this is out of many billions of human exposures over centuries. Furthermore, this is but a minor source of ingested insects. For example, a far, far greater source of incidentally ingested insects are aphids, thrips and other small plant-feeding insects on vegetables that agricultural insecticides missed. I do believe that consumers should be informed of what is present in foods, but the choices here are either carmine or FD&C Red No. 40, and either more insecticides or an occasional aphid in the lettuce.
Whitney Cranshaw, Fort Follins
The writer is a professor of entomology at Colorado State University.
Excitement over “Da Vinci Code” movie
Re: “Christians back boycott of ‘Da Vinci’,” May 16 business news story.
The Post’s story appears to prove that what goes around comes around. Now that the uproar over “The Passion of the Christ” and the Muslim cartoons has passed, it is time for the world’s third great religion to exercise its “no way to win” protest. The Christians can now feel the anxiety and uselessness of their emotions about a media presentation describing their faith which is not to their liking.
I didn’t see “The Passion” and wasn’t allowed by the media to see the cartoons, but I have read “The Da Vinci Code,” and found it interesting reading.
Abe Simon, Las Vegas
…
Author Dan Brown has not done tourists visiting Paris any favors. Living in Paris, I see many tourists obsessed with tracing the path of “The Da Vinci Code.” It literally robs them of the moment of enjoying what they flew thousands of kilometers to see. Instead, they stand in front of the Mona Lisa or inside Saint Sulpice, and ponder how a detail they read about in the book figures with what lies before them. It takes them ages to work this out – either because there is an error in the book or it was made up. It is, after all, a work of fiction. I admit that I have visited some of the sites mentioned in “The Da Vinci Code” to see if they are exactly as described in the novel. The difference is that I can visit them any time I want, and go back to appreciate them for what they are on another occasion. Tourists do not have that opportunity. So when they come to Paris, it is up to them to decide whether they wish to see Paris’ monuments and works of art through the eyes of the “The Da Vinci Code” or admire them as they really are.
Roselaine Pennino, Paris
Timing of Ward Churchill investigation
Re: “Report rips CU for probe’s timing, Churchill’s hiring,” May 17 news story.
Your article stated, “Lamar University professor Thomas Brown, a Churchill critic who supplied the committee with information on the ethnic-studies professor, said the issue came to light in an unfortunate way but was necessary. ‘I don’t think anything would have happened without a political witch hunt,’ he added. ‘But this witch hunt found a witch.”‘
The insanity of left-wing academia is that, but for Ward Churchill being a total fraud (details, details), he might have survived this “crucible.” Whether he’s allowed to keep his job or not, he actually – outrageously – continues to profit from all the notoriety. He’s going to sue if he loses his job? Yeah, right. Getting fired from the University of Colorado will be the most profitable thing that could ever happen to him, given his meager credentials. Hollywood is canonizing him as we speak.
Cheryl Scott, Denver
United HQ in Denver?
Re: “United’s HQ may land here,” May 11 news story.
So Denver is trying to bribe United Airlines to move its headquarters to Denver.
As Denver International Airport was nearing completion, United announced that it was seeking a site for an aircraft maintenance facility that would provide several thousand high-paying jobs. The state and city mobilized a major campaign to convince United to build at DIA. Colorado’s governments were eager to throw approximately $300 million at United to get this facility. Fortunately for us, Indianapolis outbid Denver.
A few years later, I talked with an official from Indianapolis who said every aspect of the city’s budget was hurt by the enormous financial commitment Indianapolis had made to United.
In The New York Times of Nov. 10, 2003, we read that United walked away from the facility Indianapolis had built for them, leaving Indianapolis to pay the $320 million cost of the empty facility.
So again United has thrown out the bait. Indianapolis is probably too smart to bid again. But naïve Denver has again taken the bait, and appears eager to throw truckloads of public money at United in an attempt to get United to move to Denver. If we are smart, we won’t throw money at United; instead, we will charge United big bucks to come here.
Albert A. Bartlett, Boulder
Democratic symbolism
Re: “2 Dems want party to embrace the donkey,” May 12 news story.
What an ass! And I’m not talking about the derriere end of the human anatomy. Rather, I refer to any Democrat who wants to make the donkey the official symbol of the Democratic Party. “Why not?” you ask. (After all, hard work and an independent spirit are certainly traits of donkeys and Democrats.) Because a donkey is commonly referred to as an ass.
However, maybe it is time for the Dems to adopt an official symbol. I would endorse the eagle as far more worthy than the ass. For starters, without the Dems, there quite possibly would not be any eagles left – at least not in the lower 48 states. It isn’t lost on me that on the same day The Post reported on two Fort Collins Dems who favor the donkey, there is also a story on how the GOP is again attacking the Endangered Species Act. Once again, only the Dems will try to save the eagles.
Rich Olver, Lakewood
Stephen Colbert’s roast of president, media
Media silence over Stephen Colbert’s legendary performance at the recent White House Correspondents’ dinner is deafening. Although the Internet is sizzling over it, mainstream media apparently would rather see the whole thing forgotten, since they were the butt of a lot of Colbert’s brilliant satire. However, the president was Colbert’s main target, an easy one at that, as he sat there scowling along with many in the audience.
Telling truth to power, while absent from most media, is not a totally lost art thanks to Colbert’s brave performance. Both friends and foes of Bush would be well served to check it out on the Web before government censors have it removed. Colbert’s entire roast, along with comments about the talk, can be found online via thankyoustephencolbert.org.
Bob Kropfli, Golden
TO REACH OPINION EDITORS
Phone: 303-820-1331
Fax: 303-820-1502
E-mail: openforum@denverpost.com
Mail: The Open Forum, The Denver Post, 1560 Broadway, Denver, 80202
Letters guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 200 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.
