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In light of America's latest meat recall, which involved 497,000 pounds of beef feared contaminated with E. coli bacteria that had been distributed to Sam's Club stores in 10 states, PETA is reminding consumers of the substantial health risks associated with eating animal flesh with a billboard that reads, "Eat Meat and Die - Go Vegetarian." This recent recall wasn't the first time that Americans have been exposed to deadly bacteria; in fact, some 55.3 million pounds of contaminated animal flesh were recalled in 2002, including 27.4 million pounds of processed poultry from a Pilgrim's Pride plant in Franconia, Pa. That's enough bad meat to make a fecal sandwich for every single American!

Meat Raises Colon Cancer Risk

PCRM News

AMA Journal January 13 2005

A report in tomorrow's Journal of the American Medical Association confirms the findings of earlier studies linking meat consumption to colon cancer. In the Cancer Prevention Study II, involving 148,610 adults followed since 1982, the group with the highest meat intake had approximately 50% higher colon cancer risk, compared to those with lower intakes.

The study found no relationship between white meat and colon cancer among men and found a negative relationship in women. The study did not report results for vegetarians within the cohort. Such data are of interest because earlier studies have indicated that those consuming white meat, particularly chicken, have approximately a threefold higher colon cancer risk, compared to vegetarians.

Editorial comment:

We hope that the study's sponsor, the American Cancer Society, will be encouraged by these findings to discontinue its beef-promoting Cattle Barons' Ball fundraisers, held annually in cities throughout the U.S.

Study/Research Reference: 

• Chao A, Thun MJ, Connell CJ, et al. Meat consumption and risk of colorectal cancer. JAMA 2005;293:172-82.
• Fraser GE. Associations between diet and cancer, ischemic heart disease, and all-cause mortality in non-Hispanic white California Seventh-day Adventists. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;70(suppl):532S-8S.

For information about nutrition and health, please visit www.pcrm.org, www.CancerProject.org, AtkinsDietAlert.org.

For information about nutrition and health, please visit http://www.pcrm.org
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