Saturday, August 08, 2009
Should one of America’s favorite foods be treated the same as cigarettes? Officials with the Cancer Project think so, which is why the organization is suing to force manufacturers of hot dogs to add warning labels to packages. According to the plaintiffs, consuming hot dogs can increase the risk of acquiring colorectal cancer, and companies like Kraft Foods, Sara Lee, Conagra, Nathan’s Famous, and Marathon should be required to warn consumers of this danger.
The Cancer Project says American ate 1.5 billion pounds of hot dogs in 2006, which leaves thousands of Americans at risk of getting colon cancer. Using data from a report by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) and the World Cancer Research Fund, the project claims “no amount of processed meat” is safe to eat. The AICR does not take a position on labeling hot dogs, but it does note that those who eat an average of one hot dog a day have a 21% greater chance of developing colorectal cancer.
Approximately 150,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with colon cancer, and 50,000 are expected to die of the disease this year.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Class Demands Cancer Warnings on Hot Dog Ads and Packages (by Chris Fry, Courthouse News Service)
Hot Dogs Can Strike You Out – For Good (CancerProject.org)
AICR Statement: Hot Dogs and Cancer Risk (American Institute for Cancer Research)
Hot Dog Lawsuit (PDF)
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