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Killer Hot Dogs?
An American Institute for Cancer Research report claims that a 50g serving of processed meat a day (about what you'd get from a hot dog) can increase your risk of colorectal cancer by 21 percent. This is thought to be because of nitrites -- preservatives used in processed and cured meats that, when broken down in the digestion process, might be carcinogenic. But that hasn't been confirmed yet. Colorectal cancer kills approximately 50,000 people every year in the U.S.
Because of this, Cancer Project president Neil Barnard has filed a lawsuit against several big processed meat producers, including Oscar Mayer and Hebrew National, demanding their products come with warning labels stating that hot dogs increase the risk of cancer, in the same way cigarettes carry warning labels about lung cancer, emphysema and so on.
"Just as tobacco causes lung cancer, processed meats are linked to colon cancer," said Neal Barnard, president of the Cancer Project and an adjunct professor at the George Washington University medical school in Washington, D.C. "Companies that sell hot dogs are well aware of the danger, and their customers deserve the same information."
The defendants in the lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, include Nathan's Famous Inc., Oscar Mayer owner Kraft Foods Inc., Sara Lee Corp., Marathon Enterprises Inc. and ConAgra Foods Inc., which owns Hebrew National.
Perfectly reasonable or a little extreme? Either way you go, I guess it's just another reason I'll stick with my smart dogs...
8 comments:
So... do Smart Dogs really taste like hot dogs? If so (or even if they're close) I'd be willing to give them a try. The hot dog pic is HILarious by the way! And as for my processed meat (which is mostly brats up here in Wisconsin), I will only eat it if I can clearly see evidence that it has been on a grill (evidence would include visible grill marks, black char or the like). I feel like the grill cooks away some of its badness!
smart dogs are ok, but you have to use lots of condiments. i like to cut mine up in vegetarian baked beans.
I dunno. (although I DO like me the SmartDogs...just because.)
In truth, I think statistics such as the 21% are kind of disingenuous as you cannot ever truly establish a control group to quantify results effectively. Think it's enough to get the word out there that there are healthier choices out there. Don't think any labeling will really stop anything anymore than smoking has been curtailed by the labeling or drinking by the labeling. People still go out in the sun with no sunscreen (and as a melanoma-affected family I make no attempts to get tanning booths labeled or the sun for that matter). Have an issue with the stats that indicate breastfeeding kids makes them smarter too...how in heaven can you make that claim? Granted, I know it's got benefits galore and I BFed mine, but I don't believe for a minute they'll score higher on tests because of it...we're all a big ol' seething pile of unique DNA and all know cancer victims who've been innocent kids, and folks who lived to their 90s smoking, drinking and eating trans fats and nitrates galore.
Think ultimately, all the labels and special interest groups seeking to place them do is attempt to make corporations accept the responsibility for decisions individuals make. If the same caring individuals directed their energies to health education THAT might---or it might not---make a difference.
Lawsy, Lou...I'm on a soapbox. Stepping off to get a glass of wine...and I accept full responsibility for any detriment it causes to my health! ;)
I love that photo!
Well, I only eat turkey/chicken hotdogs (I don't eat red meat) and I have found the Smart Dogs to be pretty tasty as well. But as often as I DON'T eat hotdogs at all, or lunchmeat or things of that sort anyway... I can't imagine a label would keep me from eating my two/three hotdogs every two or three months. I've always had a second thought before indulging in one, but I don't really know what labelling would do, and I AM a conscientious eater for the most part. Moderation or a change in production is better than labelling.
great. we just had a ton of hot dogs last week. oh i am so tired of everything turning out to be poison! bah. :(
We do love us some Yves "The Good Dog" at our house - have you tried them? Mmm,mmm,mmm!
I'm so sick of hearing about all these foods that will kill you. Such a downer :(
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