I’m so very, very tired of the scare tactics used about GMO, FDA, Vaccines, corporations, etc., etc..
Here’s an example:
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Scare Tactics
On the surface, it looks so very scary, using bold text to make sure that the scary bits are emphasized.
I’ll highlight a few of the more questionable parts. “After really putting the pressure on, I was finally able to get the complete list, but it wasn’t easy” and “Case In Point: You’ll get 2 doses of Class IV Caramel Coloring” (the later is in absolutely huge text, because we can’t simply read, we have to be beaten over the head with the scariness).
Then there’s a nice picture that has a series of bullet points, using scary terms like “made with ammonia and considered a carcinogen”, and my personal favorite “Ambiguous Natural Flavors that can be made from anything found on earth”.
It goes on and on, and continues to add more and more scary language and references.
The issue here is this… Most of this is just hyperbole to enhance your fear. There are many a logical fallacy at issue here.
Let’s take a look at the snopes breakdown of this, what I’m now terming the pumpkin spice latte of doom, because I’m scared of it now.
Snopes take on the pumpkin latte of doom
Note that, right off the bat the ingredients are readily available, and in fact you can do a build-your-own style nutrition count, letting you put in size, milk (or non-milk) type, and whipped or non-whipped cream. This seems to fly right in the face of the claims of this so-called foodbabe.
Not addressed in the snopes article are claims like the “made from anything found on earth,” and I, for one, couldn’t be more scared! Perhaps there is some sort of controlling body that could protect us from them flavoring our beverage with arsenic and dog feces! Who will protect us from the addition of lead? Oh, wait, I remember now, the FDA. Food products must be verifiably tested to be safe for human consumption, you can’t simply make something out of “anything found on earth”.
Now, just fair warning, I heard from an starbucks ex-employee’s cousin’s friend that if you don’t drink a vegan soy chai from starbucks, you’ll get goiters! Be afraid! Be very afraid!