WHAT a lot of twaddle was spoken by the people quizzed on allergies (Shuttle/Times and News View on the Street, February 19).

Cleanliness never harmed anybody. The problem is all the additives in the food chain today.

When I was growing up and also when bringing up my family, we all ate fresh fruit and vegetables in season - not all these packaged meals with so many E numbers and things we have never heard of.

Monosodium glutamate is one additive used in a lot of things, but it can cause swelling and pain in the joints, making arthritis feel much worse.

I believe that a lot of violence which goes on today all over the world is because of the way they inject so much of our food supply with things we hardly know about.

It has also been proved that additives cause hyperactivity in children, so it stands to reason that older people suffer from it too.

So the answer is to read the list of ingredients in what you are buying and avoid the things with loads of additives.

JOAN WHEATCROFT

Cedar Close

Stourport