US backs law extension to retain saccharin sales

The Reagan administration "strongly" supports a two-year extension of the law preventing federal regulators from taking saccharin off the market. Health and Human Services Secretary Richard Schweiker said he backs an extension of the law , now set to expire June 30. Without it, the artificial sweetener would have to be withdrawn from the market because of a law banning from the food supply even the smallest amounts of a substance shown to cause cancer.

It is unlikely Congress will pass an other extension by June 30, but Mr. Schweiker has indicated he will work to make sure the additive remains on store shelves as long as Congress is working toward renewing the law.