Gum arabic and Osama bin Ladin

Terrorist Osama bin Laden Is Collecting Profits From a Substance Found in Soft Drinks-Unproven!

Summary of eRumor:
There are various versions of this, but they say that "gum arabic" is a common ingredient in sodas and that it is manufactured by a company owned by Osama bin Laden and used to finance terrorism. The emails encourage readers to complain to retailers.

The Truth:
As a part of its efforts to take action against terrorists, the U. S. government is looking into this. At the moment, whether Osama bin Laden has current connections with the gum arabic industry is not reliably known.

Even if he does, holding the grocery stores accountable for it will be difficult because gum arabic comes from different sources, not just ones that may be suspected as linked to bin Laden. What is regarded as the best gum arabic, however, comes from Sudan, where it is believed that bin Laden has had considerable financial interests. Of particular concern has been Sudan's Gum Arabic company. In 1998, a U.S. State Department investigation found no evidence that the company was connected with bin Laden and a State Department spokesperson says they currently do not have information contrary to that, but it will be freshly looked into.

According to the Encyclopedia of Food Additives, Gum arabic is a major ingredient in several foods including sodas, beers, salad dressings, and ice cream.

The original name attached to the email was apparently a part of the hoax.
The man told TruthOrFiction.com he had nothing to do with it and does not know how his name became attached to it.

A real example of the story as it has been circulated:

CONTENTS:
STOP TERRORIST FUNDING IN USA!!!
UPDATE LETTER TO SMART & FINAL

Last night, FOX news, reported that there is a preservative used primarily in sodas, called GUM ARABIC. The company that produces GUM ARABIC is owned by, non-other than the COWARD TERRORIST USAMA BIN LADEN, He uses this company as a front to fund his cowardly and despicable acts of terrorism.

As we all know Bin Laden is one of the suspected master minds behind the acts of recent terrorism in our country, and murderer of thousands of innocent, freedom loving Americans. Now we as Americans and as decent freedom loving, God fearing people can do something to help stop this madman!!!

Look at the ingredients list on the backs of soda that you have at home, and before you buy them at the store.

If you see this ingredient listed:
1. Throw it out...save the empty can..recycle it...and donate the money
2. Don't buy it.if you find it at the store
3. Log a complaint with the manager of that grocery store.
4. Contact the manufacture and distributor and let them know about this ingredient and let them know that this ingredient is in their product and who it is funding. And demand that they find an alternative ingredient, and until they do we will boycott that company and their products!
5. SEND THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN!!!!! WE CAN HELP CRIPPLE THE FUNDING OF THIS MURDEROUS MAD-MAN!!!!!

Above All Never give up hope, Never compromise your faith in God, and Pray!!!!

GOD BLESS US ALL
GOD BLESS AMERICA

IF YOU FIND OTHER PRODUCTS THAT USE THE PRODUCT GUM ARABIC PLEASE WRITE A LETTER TO THE APPROPRIATE COMPANY, OR FEEL FREE TO USE THE FOLLOWING LETTER AS A TEMPLATE.

IF YOU FIND OTHER PRODUCTS THAT FUND THESE TERRORIST CAUSES PLEASE FOWARD ANY INFORMATION ASAP!!!

Smart & Final Customer Relations
customerrelations@smartandfinal.com, for the following:
Customer service comments
Product quality comments You may also call our toll free 1-800-894-0511 number for customer assistance. Just leave a short message and a representative will get back to you as soon as possible or write us at:
Customer Relations
PO BOX 2377, GMF
Los Angeles CA 90051-0377

Dear smart & final,

I am writing to you concerning your cola products. Just today my wife and I discovered through a FOX news report that a preserving ingredient in your cola products, GUM ARABIC is produced and manufactured by a company owned by the terrorist Usama Bin Laden. They also reported that he uses this company as a front to fund his terrorist activities. This concerns me greatly, that a product containing an ingredient manufactured by Bin Laden, has been used to finance attacks on innocent Americans, and on America itself. In fact it sickens me to the very core, as it should all Americans.

I have noticed that other brands of cola products may or may not use this preservative, and I am writing to all those who do, to urge them to find an alternative preservative. One which does not fund the activities of terrorists like Bin Laden, and aides those like him in the mass murder of thousands of innocent freedom loving Americans.

This is no small matter. If we as Americans can each as individuals do a small thing to affect our lives for the better, then together we can accomplish great goals that better our lives, our country, and our fellow Americans.

In this case we can effectively put a stop to a piece of this mad-mans corrupt empire, by stopping the use of this ingredient.

Your company can help. By finding an alternative preservative to GUM ARABIC, you can ensure that Bin Laden will lose at least a portion of his financial assets, and that could very well be the pawn that that slays the king! or at least wounds him.
I don't know what the cost are involved in a venture such as finding a new preservative and implementing it into your current production. I do know that the cost is substantially less than the price that America paid on September 11, 2001.

In the coming days you, and other companies you use this product, will be receiving e-mails and calls from my family, friends, associates, and anyone that will listen to the voice of reason and decency. I ask that you seriously consider the information that I, and they have disclosed to you. I cannot in good faith continue to buy, or use this, or any product whose end use is the murder of innocent lives..American lives.

I look forward to your timely response

Sincerely,

[Name deleted by request]
Veteran USAF

GOD BLESS AMERICA