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Science

Antibody Food Spices 62

Posted by Hemos from the adding-it-all-in dept.
jargon writes "Flouride...antibiotics...looks like they now want to add antibodies to your food. "Adding spices laced with antibodies to your cooking could help protect against food poisoning bacteria, according to scientists.""
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Antibody Food Spices More

Antibody Food Spices

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  • Welcome Back, Kotter! (Score:4, Funny)

    by mikedaisey ( 413058 ) on Monday March 31, 2003 @11:02AM (#5631203) Homepage

    I thought the previewing system was going to help prevent duplication?

    In other words, this article was already posted at /.

    • Apparently these people have failed to consider that nearly 20% of the population of the world is allergic to egg yolks. It's the second most common food allergy, next to diary.

      Queen B

  • Bloop (Score:2, Informative)

    by KDan ( 90353 )
    Doope [slashdot.org].

    Daniel

  • Antibodies in food (Score:3, Insightful)

    by override11 ( 516715 ) <cpeterson@gts.gaineycorp.com> on Monday March 31, 2003 @11:05AM (#5631217) Homepage
    Yes, but wouldnt this constant exposure to these generally weaken the human body's ability to fight off disease itself? Also, this would help develop more resistant strains of bacteria. I think this is a bad thing, IMHO..

    • Re:Antibodies in food (Score:5, Informative)

      by KDan ( 90353 ) on Monday March 31, 2003 @11:11AM (#5631243) Homepage
      No, it wouldn't. We're talking about antibodies, not antibiotics. Antibodies are molecules that bind to the receptors of bacteria/viruses and thus prevent them from binding to your cells and infecting them. That's all they do - basically turn harmful agents into harmless dust-like particles. They're not alive, they're not poison. They're pretty cool!

      Daniel
      • Well, it would weaken the species' survivability, thats for sure. But so does every drug out on the market. Any artificial workaround to basic darwinian evolution will usurp the species' capacity for natural progression in that area. It allows weak people to survive. This is why I think we should make educational enforcement our highest priority. The evolution we have going for us now is the rapid progression of scientific study. And if we let people be ignorant, then we are dooming ourselves to a ver

      • Re:Antibodies in food (Score:4, Insightful)

        by PeDRoRist ( 639207 ) on Monday March 31, 2003 @12:50PM (#5631722) Homepage
        Hmmm,
        Wouldn't it be better if we'd let those harmful agents infect our cells and let our body learn how to produce matching antibodies by itself?
        Like, you know, the natural way.

        Of course, IANAD but it make sense, IMHO.
        • And, then somehow the entire human race was wiped out with the diseases smallpox, polio and then aids, because the doctors thought it best that humans develop the antibodies to the viral infections themselves.

          Of course, there are cases where the human body simply can't produce the proper immunity to the virus (or bacteria), whereby we would get help by getting the proper innocculation or antibiotics, etc.

        • Wouldn't it be better if we'd let those harmful agents infect our cells and let our body learn how to produce matching antibodies by itself? Like, you know, the natural way.

          Damned right! Just look how much healthier Europeans were back in the 14th century, with a nice dose of the Black Death to eliminate the weak. And look at the wonders that natural exposure to smallpox did for the native Americans!

          Natural, shmatural; my kids are getting antibiotics, vaccines, antibodies (maybe, we'll see what the

          • Wouldn't it be better if we'd let those harmful agents infect our cells and let our body learn how to produce matching antibodies by itself? Like, you know, the natural way.

            Damned right! Just look how much healthier Europeans were back in the 14th century, with a nice dose of the Black Death to eliminate the weak. And look at the wonders that natural exposure to smallpox did for the native Americans!

            But then, why not rather concentrate on vaccine, which does train the body in defending itself without

            • But then, why not rather concentrate on vaccine, which does train the body in defending itself without risking anything?

              Two points: First, vaccine isn't, in fact, risk free, although the risk is *very* acceptable (and the development of the newer acellular vaccines lowers the risk even further). Second, the poster I was responding to advocated the "natural" way, which vaccines are not.

              Not only your kids, but the bacteria in them as well. Not all bacteria die from the contact, and the stronger ones w

              • The "so what" is that we use antibiotics way too much. Antibiotic soap for instance. The real problem comes from agriculture in which chickens and cows are given antibiotics indiscriminately because it is cheaper to cover your bases. It is a classic tragedy of the commons.

                When you compare the worst case with the best case there is a big difference. In the best case anti-biotics are used appropriately and judiciously and resistant bacteria take a lot longer to develop.

                It also might be worth conside

                • The "so what" is that we use antibiotics way too much.

                  Sure, but if we use them at all, resistant strains will eventually develop. Using them carefully is better than using them indiscriminately, but not using them at all (the "natural way") is just plain stupid.

                  And don't forget that the subject of the article was antibodies, not antibiotics -- completely different things.

                  For example, they might be more contagious than the bacteria that would have otherwise evolved.

                  Could be. I haven't heard of an

                  • And don't forget that the subject of the article was antibodies, not antibiotics -- completely different things.

                    Yeah, I know, just couldn't help but respond to your post which was on this topic.

                    Could be. I haven't heard of any that have done this, though. It would seem like there should be some evidence.

                    Neither have I. I would love to see some evidence one way or the other. I was just speculating on possible ways in which our use of antibiotics might leave us in a worse position than the "natural wa

      • Well, they're not too cool when they attack important bodily tissues. Autoimmune diseases are not our friend.

  • ...is an antibody spice that prevents /. editors from posting duplicate stories.

  • Not neccessary to do this... (Score:3, Informative)

    by kfx ( 603703 ) on Monday March 31, 2003 @11:27AM (#5631307)
    While this looks like a great boon to people's immune systems, it's been known for some time that certain spices such as wild oregano oil (normal oregano is much milder) have very strong bacteria-fighting properties. Unfortunately, wild oregano is very rare, gorws only on mountains, and is illegal (!) to remove from those mountains... People really should look into getting ahold of some wild oregano and try growing it in bulk elsewhere or even try engineering it to strengthen its bacteria-fighting properties... now that would be useful.
    • you are correct. spices in general, not only for flavor, but for health reasons, are very beneficial.

      Scientists-engineers, chemists, biologists, social scientists, economic scientists, are showing daily an amazing ability to keep proving some sets of human observations posted millenia ago in a book called "the bible". It's like -surprise-eating lots of fresh raw foods that haven't been dorked with by man in some fashion is basically good for you, and that it keeps you healthy. You can take it as "laws" pas
      • Exactly. If I'm not mistaken wild oregano is referred in the Bible as hissop, and was used in many purification rituals (and in other religions too probably). And now we discover that it does a great job of keeping you healthy by killing bacteria... go figure.
  • General Jack D. Ripper: Mandrake, do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk... ice cream. Ice cream, Mandrake, children's ice cream.
    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Lord, Jack.
    General Jack D. Ripper: You know when fluoridation first began?
    Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: I... no, no. I don't, Jack.
    General Jack D. Ripper: Nineteen hundred and forty-six. Nineteen forty-six, Mandrake. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Commie works.
    • Rofl! Dr Strangelove is a brilliant movie. :-)

      Daniel
    • General Jack D. Ripper: Nineteen hundred and forty-six. Nineteen forty-six, Mandrake. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Commie works.

      You and your conspiracy theories are stagnant. Everyone knows it's a terrorist plot! Just ask Bush.

      Thank goodness for Bush's moral convictio

  • Sad (Score:1, Offtopic)

    by Bourbon Man ( 76846 )
    It's pretty sad when the friggin people who RUN slashdot don't READ slashdot. Hey Taco, change the icon on this one to a copying machine, because it's a duplicate post :-)

  • well... (Score:1, Offtopic)

    by C21 ( 643569 )
    the real irony here is the incredible slew of people redundantly crying out that the article is a duplicate...

  • Same criticism applies as to "cold pasteurization" (Score:4, Insightful)

    by geoswan ( 316494 ) on Monday March 31, 2003 @01:23PM (#5631905) Journal
    "Cold pasteurization" is the term some in the USA would like to use for bombarding food with a killing dose of radiation.

    This irradiation prevents fresh food like Potatoes, from sprouting. The potato is still alive. This kills it.

    This irradiation also kills microbes within the food, or on its surface, that could cause it to go bad.

    One of the criticisms of irradiating food is that the knowledge that the food will eventually be irradiated will cause those responsible for maintaining cleanliness in the preparation of the food to relax their standards.

    And I believe the same criticism could be applied here.

    The article that drew this to my attention talked, in detail, about how modern slaughterhouses work. Apparently a batch of meat gets tainted by E.coli when an intestine gets nicked, and fecal matter leaks out. Yuck.

    I'd prefer my food to be safe to eat even if some high tech wonder failed, or that step was skipped.

  • Does anyone else remember seeing the SNL skit about Hamburger Helper Anti-bacterial? I'm pretty sure Will Farrel is in it, so it's not too old. The skit shows a couple using rancid meat that's been sitting out for weeks. They mix in the ingredients and then squirt a big tube of some bright blue gunk into the pan. When they're eating the food, they comment about the "tingeling" feeling they get (that's how you know it's working).

    Truth really is stranger then fiction
  • Ok... so antibodies aren't drugs... they're not really alive... but, what are possible reactions to it?

    I mean... I have a lot of family members that have to make sure to order "no MSG" at Chinese restaurants. Next time maybe we'll have to say: "No MSG please... and um.... hold off on the antibodies as well, they gave me bloat and a really aweful case of gas last time"

    • I was out with a friend at a Chinese restaurant and witnessed the following interaction between her and the waiter:

      Friend: Could you please make sure not to use MSG in my food?
      Waiter: Oh no! We don't use MSG *at all* in this restaurant.
      Friend: Good, because I have a horrible reaction to it! If I have even a little, I'll get blinding migraine headaches and usually end up laying on the floor in convulsions. So, if you use it at all, I'd like to request that you give the pans and utensils and extra washin

      • From speaking to both Chinese friends and those who work in the restaurants:
        It is both in some packaged ingredients and also added as flavoring to the food. Asking for "no MSG" will reduce it... but you'll probably still get some from the packaged stuff.

        That being said... something you find it even in packaged food at home. I've seen it sneak into my larder along with local food products at times.
      • MSG tends to form spontaneously during many types of food processing. Gelatin, caseinate salts, textured or hydrolyzed protein, yeast products, and hydrolyzed gluten all contain MSG. Soy, malt, and whey products often do as well.

        Not only that, it's sprayed on many crops as a growth enhancer.
    • putting antibodies in food to kill off bacteria promotes that bacteria to reproduce stronger and more resistant defense. It's basically a tolerance issue. You will have to keep upping the dosage of antibodies until even an extremely large dose would be ineffective.
  • If they do this, I want a warning in HUGE neon letters warning me. I don't like antibiotics, or anything like them. I fight things on my own, who needs a weak immune system. When I get VERY sick I ask the doc "will this kill me if I don't take your wussy antibiotics". When he says no, then I stay runned down that extra week, so what. After years of practicing this, surprise, I don't get sick. Stuff that knocks everyone in the office down for a week takes me all of a day to get over. Antibiotics, ha,
    • What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, eh? That'll work until something kills you. Like trichinosis from raw swine.

    • Re:They'd better not! (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Oriumpor ( 446718 ) on Monday March 31, 2003 @03:29PM (#5632538) Homepage Journal
      Since I'm sure most flames/trolls will be based upon facts being ignored, here is what antibody means.

      From DICTIONARY.com [reference.com]

      antibody ( P ) Pronunciation Key (nt-bd)
      n. pl. antibodies

      A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph in response to an antigenic stimulus, such as a bacterium, virus, parasite, or transplanted organ, and that neutralizes the antigen by binding specifically to it; an immunoglobulin.


      MUCH DIFFERENT than an Antibiotic [reference.com] for the little informed:

      antibiotic ( P ) Pronunciation Key (nt-b-tk, nt-)
      n.
      A substance, such as penicillin or streptomycin, produced by or derived from certain fungi, bacteria, and other organisms, that can destroy or inhibit the growth of other microorganisms. Antibiotics are widely used in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.


      now... next time RTFA
      • I did read the article.

        antibiotics, or anything like them

        That included antibodies in my mind, but we all think differently. Basically, If my body didn't make it, I don't want it. I'm really picky about what goes into me. I don't think we're getting full disclosure on what happens to all this processed food. Thus why I don't eat processed food in general. It's harder finding organic things and 3x as costly, not to mention time consuming preparing them. The years I'm gaining by taking care of myself
        • Basically, If my body didn't make it, I don't want it.

          So how do you eat food then, exactly?

          • Maybe he's an autocannibal?

            Still, I'd be worried that this would be a little like perpetual motion. I expect autocannibals just keep getting smaller, no matter how perfectly they recycle all their waste products, until they disappear.

        • I don't think we're getting full disclosure on what happens to all this processed food.

          You've obviously never worked in a food processing plant, then. I put myself through college working for various food processing plants. It wouldn't even gross me out to lick the floor of those plants; they are kept that clean; because it's a food plant, all cleaners and sanitizers have to be non-toxic. Your keyboard probably has a more dangerous culture of bacteria and other harmful substances living on it.

          I person
  • Jane's Crazy Mixed-Up Antibodies?
  • The spice must flow!
  • Yeah, and next they want to add tracer nanochips to your food, so when you eat, they can Borg-ize you. Or after you've taken in these chips you'd say something against the government and they'd short-circuit your heart.

    -uso.
    1984!!!
  • Polymerized amino acids have an uncanny ability to lose their activity when they are heated. They also start denaturing well before boiling. Same with peptidoglycans. I don't know about you, but I like my food hot.
  • There is a company in California - Rancho Cucamonga (no, I am not making this up) which makes glues and adhesives.

    They were among the first companies to develop cyanoacrylate superglue, but they got scooped, somehow. And since everybody else is making profit from their superglue now, they were thinking very hard how to get a new patented use for superglue. So they came up with a pretty good idea - and have it patented, too - that they would dip-glue the behind hole of slaughtered poultry, so that the "inte
  • [sarcasm] yeah...helping people...just wait till they start putting floride in the water!...er never mind [/sarcasm]

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