There is a new soy company standing at the
plate, attempting to hit a grand slam home
run. They are swinging for the fences, but
so far, like Casey at the bat, they've
struck out.

When I was a kid, there was a Boston Red Sox
baseball player named Jimmy Piersal. Piersal
was affected by a violent bipolar disease,
and was a diagnosed manic depressive.

Piersal was quite a character, and an entertaining
one at that. After a long hospital stay, I
remember him coming back to play ball and
hitting a home run, then running the bases backwards!

Somewhere, deep in my mind, I seem to recall that
Piersal played briefly for the craziest of teams,
the New York Mets, although don't quote me on
that one.

My favorite Piersal quote, when asked how
to change a diaper:

"Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond
with you at bat. Then fold second base down to
home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound.
Put first base and third together, bring up home
plate and pin the three together. Of course, in
case of rain, you gotta call the game and start
all over again."

One of my favorite actors, Anthony Perkins, played
Jimmy Piersal in Fear Strikes Out, one of the great
all-time baseball movies. Perkins is best known for
portraying that crazed psycho who attacked Janet
Leigh in a memorable shower scene that still has
me looking through the curtain each time I shower.

Perkins died about ten years ago of Aids. His
widow recently died in an airplane that hit
the World Trade Center.

This column is about touching all of the bases.
There is a new soy company called Frulatte. They
make soy smoothies.

In an attempt to manufacture their version of
a "perfect" product, the Frulatte people have
tried to touch every base by including one
politically correct additive after another
into their soy-based drinks.

The Frulatte company is a division of one of
Japan's largest drug companies, Yamanouchi
Pharmaceuticals. They manufacture nutritional
food supplements.

In marketing their soy product, Frulatte writes:

"Soy protein in Frulatte smoothies is a natural
source of isoflavones. The isoflavone content
ranges from 5 to 15 mg. per 10.5 fl. oz. serving
based on such factors as soil conditions, rainfall,
and the soybean crop year."

They add Vitamin B-12. They add Vitamin D-3.

Where does commercial Vitamin B-12 come from?
Animals, primarily beef liver.

Where does Vitamin D-3 come from?
Animals, primarily sheep skin and wool.

What else is in Frulatte's isoflavone-rich
soy drink? Their response:

"Half the protein comes from soy and half
from dairy."

Unfortunately, like an psychotic Piersal, the
Frulatte folks are running the bases backwards.

I spoke to Frulatte's chief chemist, Chris
Jensen. Nice guy. Open minded. I let him know
that his soymilk smoothies will not capture
the real vegetarian market until they change
their formulas. Why not tell Chris (in a nice
way) yourself? Let him know that there is
a strong market for healthy vegan smoothie
products. His EMAIL:

cjensen@...

His phone:

510-287-3956

Chris let me know that some of his products
contain carrageenan. I've put him in touch
with America's expert, Joanne Tobacman. Dr.
Tobacman will alert Chris as to the adverse
effects of this unnecessary emulsifier.

Chris also promised to get back to me regarding
the source of the Vitamin B-12 his company
uses. I spoke to him yesterday, and he told me
that it's microbrial. I am waiting for details.
Those same "microbes" producing Vitamin B-12 in the
human body live in the lower recesses of our
intestines in regions where the sun don't shine.

Commercially prepared Vitamin B-12 from microbes
is extracted from feces.

Robert Cohen
http://www.notmilk.com