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The
PLAIN TRUTH
November
1971
may be one of the tbree main causes of sudden infant deatb
(crib deatb). The report revealed tbat in an intensive five–
year study of such deatbs, those tbat died were sbown
to
have
a bigh amount of antibodies to cow's milk and that 42% of
those examined had cow's milk in their air passages.
One doctor has suggested that research be done to see if
pasteurization of milk may be a factor. Whetber or not cow's
milk formula is a cause or contributing factor in the higb
incidence of crib death is still a controversia! subject among
medica! experts. Nevertheless, it is better to breast feed your
baby, and not take cbances on a possible tragedy.
Breast feeding is known to lower an infant's suscepti–
bility to allergy and infection.
Says the
Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy,
"Breast feeding by a healthy motber provides the natural
food for infants ... has the lowest incidence of food allergy;
and may furnish unidentified factors which lower tbe
inci–
dence of infection in tbe infant."
•
Parental lnfluence and
Teen-age Mari juana Use
According to Dr. Nechama Tec, Researcb Director, Mid–
Faidield Child Guidance Center, Norwalk, Connecticut,
parental influence
is a key factor in whether or not teen-agers
turn to using marijuana.
Dr. Tec conducted a survey among 1700 youths, aged 15
to 18, living in an affiuent suburban community, attending
the local public high school. His survey findings were dis–
closed in the November 1970,
Jortmal of Marriage a11d the
Family:
• There is a significantly bigber proportion of
reg11lar
marijttana wers
among cbildren of broken bornes than among
those from unbroken bornes.
• Among children wbose parents use legal drugs there is a
higher leve! of illegal drug involvement. Tbe following per–
centage of surveyed teen-agers used marijuana: 18% of tbose
whose mothers took sleeping pills; 20% of those motbers
used tranquilizers; 23% of tbose whose motbers "drink
more than just cocktails." (Anotber study of 14,000 students
in Ontario, Canada noted that a teen-ager whose mother takes
tranquilizers daily is three times more ükely to use marijuana,
LSD, or glue and six times as likely to use opiates than one
whose mother does not) .
• According to Dr. Tec's survey there is a di rect correla–
tion between the amount of family recognition teen-agers are
given and teen-age marijuana use or non-use. Approximately
58% of teen-agers whose parents were disappointed and dis–
pleased witb them used marijuana - 26% moderately and
32% regularly. Of the children wbose parents were proud
and pleased with them 23% used marijuana - 16% moder–
ately and only 7% regularly.
• Parents who lack warmth, are overly demanding and
cold or indifferent increase tbe likelihood of their children
usiog marijuana. The survey determined that 56% of children
with indiffereot parents used marijuana - tbe percentage was
47% for those whose parents were demanding and cold. In
comparison, 29% of the children whose parents showed them
warmth used marijuana.
• Demanding
too
much of children academically was also
statistically correlated with marijuana use. Likewise, indiffer–
ence to children's accomplishments in school was also
correlated with marijuana use.
When chi ldren can openly talk to their family about
trouble they are in or problems they are facing, they are less
likely to turn to using marijuana.
• Children that say they enjoy being with their family are
less likely to turn to marijuana use. In the survey, 38% of
tbose children who said tbey didn't enjoy being with their
fami ly regularly smokcd marijuana. Only 4% of those that
said they enjoyed being with their family were regular mari–
juana users.
What obvious conclusions does this data present? As the
1970 White House Conference on Children so aptly stated in
its recommendations, "There is a need to change our patterns
of living so that once again we will bring adults back into
the lives of children and children back into the lives of
adults."
•
11
8argain
11
Freezer Meats
A family with a home freezer can usually purchase ex–
pensive food items like meat in bulk quantities at a lower cost
per pound. But this is true only if a family makes its purchase
from an
honest
freezer-meat provisioner.
Most freezer-meat operators do run honest businesses.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that there are at
least 7,500 ethical freezer-meat dealers in the country. But
there are also sorne 300 unscrupulous bait-and-switch freezer–
meat operators. Consumers should
be
aware of them.
To avoid being taken in by an unscrupulous freezer-meat
dealer, follow this FTC advice:
l.
Beware of advertisements which offer meat at "bar–
gain" prices far below those at retail stores. And keep in
mind that bulk meat is usually sold by the hanging weight
- uncut and untrimmed. Only half
to
three-quarters of the
beef may remain after cutting and trimming.
2.
Make sure it is U.S.D.A. stamped. But remember that
there are a number of U.S.D.A. grades. In declining order of
quality there is U. S. Prime, U. S. Choice, U. S. Good, U. S.
Standard, U. S. Cornmercial, U. S. Utility, U. S. Cutter and
U. S. Canner. The "utility" grade is two rungs above the
lowest grade and comes from old cattle whose meat is rarely
sold at retail. The bottom two, "cutter'' and "canner'' are
used in processed meat products and almost never sold in
retail stores.
3.
If
the dealer suggests a more expensive half or quar–
ter, don't buy unless you've checked the price per pound after
cutting and trimming with the price per pound of meat in a
regular market. And be extremely wary of buying meat from
a freezer-meat provisioner or credit. Find out to whom your
promissory note must be paid, whether ioterest and carrying
charges will be added to your payments, and how much they
will be. Before buying check on the dealer's reputation with a
call to your local Better Business Bureau.