What's that 1970s horror movie where the butcher runs after all the teenagers with a cleaver in one hand and a piece of red meat in the other? I can't remember, but the reports on CBS's "Evening News" October 31 and CNN's "American Morning" November 1 came pretty close to that, sans the cleaver.
The two networks decided to enjoy some of the Halloween spirit by scaring viewers with a "landmark" study finding consumption of processed meat could increase the risk of colon cancer.
CBS anchor Katie Couric made up her mind after the "frightening" news saying, "No more bacon for me," and CNN's Kiran Chetry found the news of the findings "very shocking" and noted that "I'm in real trouble here" because of her own eating habits.
Video: Clip (34 secs): Windows Media (1.96 Mb) or MP3 Audio (268 Kb)
Chetry went even further, "I guess what is so astounding is if they can extrapolate ... that it really does cause that much of a jump in risk it should come with a warning label you know just like cigarettes or alcohol does. That's what seems to be so surprising."
She later warned her co-host John Roberts to ditch the bacon and to "get rid of it, just hard boiled eggs or Raisin Bran."
Medical Correspondent for CNN Elizabeth Cohen at least allowed business its say noting, "The meat industry calls this, ‘Extreme, unfounded and irresponsible.'"
Cohen also said that it was possible to find experts not affiliated with the meat industry that would say, "not to eat processed meats at all is going a little overboard."
"This report is suggesting moderation, not total deprivation," added Dr. John LaPook of CBS.
—Paul Detrick is a Research Analyst at the Business and Media Institute.
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Processed Meat is not the cause
November 1, 2007 - 17:22 ET by Lame CherryThese jackmanasses know full well that meat is not the cause of cancer, but the PRESERVATIVES might be a triggering influence the same as they are in auto immune diseases.
If you don't like store preserved meats, make your own as their are sites which give directions and it is more than easy. Last year I made venison bacon out of that horrid flank belly meat on deer. It was fantastic and yes I used nitrites to preserve the bacon.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
LC, I think nitrites are
November 1, 2007 - 19:54 ET by motherbeltLC, I think nitrites are the same preservatives they use in bacon etc. They have been going on about nitrites for years now.
As for this:
Chetry went even further, "I guess what is so astounding is if they can
extrapolate ... that it really does cause that much of a jump in risk
it should come with a warning label you know just like cigarettes or
alcohol does.
I wonder if she's aware that California wine already has a warning label...not about consumption of alcohol, but the fact that the wine might contain sulfites.
And I don't know if it's true, but I heard or read some time ago that menus in CA restaurants (or signs on the wall) say the food served here may contain....and follow with a list of all the additives etc that they think people should be warned about.
I, for one, will be cutting
November 1, 2007 - 17:32 ET by RackieI, for one, will be cutting back on bacon. This morning I had a cheeseburger.
Bacon
November 1, 2007 - 17:36 ET by ghost of Mary Jo KopechneI am going to fry up some bacon tonight just out of spite of the MSM.
Support Our Troops. God bless the military.
http://adoptaplatoon.org/new/index.htm
New study
November 1, 2007 - 17:37 ET by DFLowerA new study has determined that breathing causes cancer, and increases global warming.
Ok, the way I understand,
November 1, 2007 - 17:38 ET by hordogOk, the way I understand, if I abstain from cigarettes, bacon, pop, alcohol, ham, chocolate, beef, cheese, ice cream, butter, bacon, eggs, refined sugar, all pork, bacon (I know, but it's an important one), doughnuts (mmmm...doughnuts....), unprotected sex, laser printers, double pepperoni pizza with double cheese, beer (mmmm....beer....) and bacon, I'll live to 113 years old. But, without all these things, who would want to?
Well, I'd could prolly survive with an ink jet, but I'll bitch about it till I die....
newsflash
November 1, 2007 - 17:51 ET by mvfreemanLife is one big risk. Deal with it.
LIFE is dangerous.
November 1, 2007 - 19:45 ET by motherbeltLIFE is dangerous.
Isn't Couric due for a
November 1, 2007 - 18:53 ET by jdhawkIsn't Couric due for a colonoscopy and report on the same - now that's frightening!
Studies are like belly
November 1, 2007 - 19:09 ET by zfStudies are like belly buttons, everyone has one and most of them stink. When nutrition becomes an exact science, instead of the constantly changing, "this is bad, no wait it isn't, yes it is, wait, no it really isn't" clusterfunk that it is now, maybe I'll care.
P.S. Don't buy what they say about preservatives, additives and other "unnatural" things either. Same clusterfunk.
This is like those news
November 1, 2007 - 19:44 ET by motherbeltThis is like those news teasers that say "New information about cheese and breast cancer; find out if you're at risk.
And then the answer, of course, ends up being "no".
They start out huge: (emphasis added throughout):
“landmark” study finding consumption of processed meat could increase the risk of colon cancer.
Later on we get to the modification:
a cancer institute nutrition adviser who urged some caution, but not a complete ban on processed meats.
And they never tell you what the increase is. If your risk is doubled, that could mean the chance goes from 5 in 100 to 10 in 100. Doubled, yes, but still only a 10% chance.
Studies have show that a
November 1, 2007 - 19:53 ET by pocomocoStudies have show that a steady diet of the MSM can be hazardous to your health.
Yeah, it's hard to
November 1, 2007 - 23:44 ET by MidAmericaYeah, it's hard to swallow and raises your blood pressure.
MA... Well said! Get
November 1, 2007 - 23:50 ET by Clear thinkerMA...
Well said!
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It also may have----
November 2, 2007 - 00:04 ET by misterbillEEK ----OH---- LIE!!!!
Oh we'll probably hear
November 1, 2007 - 23:34 ET by MidAmericaOh we'll probably hear lots of stories in the future about how meat is so bad for us. The green lefties and the animal worshippers want us all to eat seeds and twigs.
I'll stop eating meat when every other creature stops eating meat.
Scary Tactics at schools too
November 1, 2007 - 23:35 ET by merlin61My grandaughter in 4th grade, is being scared by
her teacher about the staph infection, and had to
watch a global warming video, causing her to come
home and tell mom she's gonna be dead in 20 years.
Kids don't have enough pressure from new idiotic
teaching methods, they now have to worry about
dying prematurely. Is this terror necessary?
merlin... Just make sure
November 1, 2007 - 23:48 ET by Clear thinkermerlin...
Just make sure you give your granddaughter your side of these issues. Kids are more apt to listen to grandparents than they will teachers or even their own parents.
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The whole MRSA is pretty
November 1, 2007 - 23:51 ET by balboaThe whole MRSA is pretty scary. Hearing about more outbreaks all the time, especially in college athletics. Nothing wrong with reinforcing to kids the importance of washing their hands.
Food Terror
November 2, 2007 - 11:45 ET by keckkwFox did it too.