Have you seen this billboard?
The Cancer Project, an offshoot of the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine, sponsored the billboard, which was erected near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to warn NASCAR fans of the dangers of hot dogs.
Unsurprisingly, the meat lobby threw a tizzy fit and posted this rebuttal argument, which whines that evil vegans are behind the agenda, and that (wait for it) HOT DOGS ARE GOOD FOR YOU:
“Hot dogs are part of a healthy, balanced diet. They come in a variety of nutrition and taste formulas and they are an excellent source of protein, vitamins and minerals,” said AMI President J. Patrick Boyle. “This group’s claims are on a collision course with the facts.”
They continue on by attempting to debunk the assertion that hot dogs, or other processed meats, can lead to cancer.
Well, the medical community disagrees. Among other issues, hot dogs (both non-organic and organic alike) contain nitrites, which are known carcinogens. Here’s what the American Cancer Society says:
“‘Nitrite is nitrite and consumers should be aware of what they’re eating,’ said Marji McCullough, director of nutritional epidemiology for the American Cancer Society, which recommends that people reduce consumption of processed meats because of studies that link them to colon cancer.”
The meat lobby does a brilliant job in its PR campaign against the medical community to counter-inform people on the dangers of meats, and quite honestly, if I didn’t have a reason to be extremely careful about what I consume (read: living with cancer) I’d believe them. I stopped eating meat out of love for animals, not for my health, as you know.
I thought I’d help out the good guys and find some websites that support the contention that eating hot dogs can cause cancer. Read both sides of the argument and then make your own decision. It’s your life after all.
Information on hot dogs, nitrites, and cancer:
- Cancer Prevention Coalition
- American Institute for Cancer Research
- Endocrineweb.com (scary observation: nitrites are also used to preserve leafy vegetables like spinach)
- The National Review