Pizza Cheese Developments

Please note the following updates on the Pizza Cheese story in The Milkweed’s March 2006 edition:

• “Leprino Foods: No Polydimethylsiloxane in Pizza Cheese”
• “FDA Approved Polydimethylsiloxane in Foods in 1998”
• Copy of Leprino Foods’ February 17, 2006 letter to The Milkweed

In response to Leprino Foods’ letter, The Milkweed:

• Has removed the January 2006 article, “Silicone-Based Chemical in Pizza Hut’s Cheese” from the Web site.
• Suggests readers not pursue the “Call to Action” cited on page 5 of the February 2006 issue.

More background reading:

• 21CFR340: defoaming agents section of FDA regulations defining permitted uses of Dimethylpolysiloxane in certain food products.
• “Regarding the Evolution of Formaldehyde from Polydimethylsiloxanes” September 1999 paper published by GE Silicones.
• NuSil Technology Material Safety Data Sheet G-9030 May 1999 paper explaining that polydimethylsiloxane can generate formaldehyde as a byproduct when heated to temperatures greater than 150°C (300°F).