Michael Reddell wrote:
Dear Friends:
   It is saddening for me to see people making arguments (pro or contra)
just about any subject for the sake of argumentation.  I agree, that
everyone under the sun is entitled to his/her own opinion BUT to me it
does not make sense to opine if one is bordering on the ridiculous.
     To opine against the use of mineral oil because one person does not
like the idea of the possibility of mineral oil getting into ones
beverage is as incomprehensible as the person who says that he/she will
not fly airplanes because airplanes may crash.  I am sure that readers
on this list will most likely find more suitable comparisons, but be it
as it may, the type of argument can cause serious damage to the present
method of bee mites treatment with mineral oil, especially when I have
insisted that only medicinal, FOOD GRADE MINERAL OIL, should be used.
     I have not measured analytically the presence of oil in honey.  I
do not have the means nor the funds to undertake that type of study.  I
am sure that investigators with such means will soon undertake the task.
 
     I am proud of my contribution to beekeeping and to humanity.  I
have and I am still providing updates on my findings about the use of FG
mineral oil for the treatment of bee mites.  I truly believe that the
method has great potential for the control of bee mites.  It not only
offers a control method for bee mites but also a substitute method for
the elimination of toxic substances from our food chain.  I think that
consumers who are becoming ever so more conscious about their food
sources will soon be looking for honey labeled as free of pesticides.
It is to the best interest of those of us who love our bees and the art
of beekeeping to promote systems or methods that work toward that
purpose.
     I think that waiting until further testing (if you want to take
your chances of losing some of your bees to Varroa) of the use of
mineral oil before trying the method is the prerogative of each
individual.  To knock the method on the world wide web based on one's
individual ideas, I think is damaging to beekeeping.  My opinion.
Best regards.
Dr. Rodriguez
Virginia Beach, VA (USA)