Every so often, some organization decides to produce a report that says bacon causes some sort of disease (along with 99.9% of everything else in the world). And like everything else, most of us read the report, toss it aside, and order another BLT. Because, hell, something is going to kill all of us eventually. So we might as well go down enjoying it. And as far as I’m concerned, if I’m contemplating the difference between eating bacon and living to the age of 80 or cutting bacon out of my diet and living to 85, then pass me another bacon wrapped shrimp and put the funeral home on alert.
The latest uproar over health concerns related to bacon was caused by a report released recently by the World Cancer Research Fund called “Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective.” In Chapter 4 of the report, they make the claim that processed meats (ie bacon, ham, salami, and sausages) are a cause of colorectal cancer. Then in Chapter 12, they recommend avoiding processed meats completely if possible.
I personally think that if health organizations and governments are serious about promoting public health, they could do a lot more good by pushing the concept of moderation rather than just telling people what they can or cannot eat (or even worse, making certain foods illegal).
But even if someone decides to do something that might not be good for them, shouldn’t that be their own choice? I think so. And so do many others who have lashed out against the report’s recommendations this week. It seems that many people have finally had enough of the food police.
- In an article in The Sun, British celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson dismissed the research as “just another scare.” “They test mice and rats and they force feed them and they get cancer. We don’t force feed ourselves. There’s nothing wrong with eating bacon sarnies once a week. If they have their way we’ll all turn into vegetarians.”
- In an article called “Not my last bacon buttie” on MadComments, author Melinda writes, “If we make the wrong choices about our diet and lifestyle isn’t it our own fault, not the food producers who are making the food?”
- The Epoch Times reports on the potential impact this might have on Australian fare. Peter Clifton, director of nutrition at CSIRO says, “To limit it is fine. But to warn people to avoid it altogether implies it’s toxic and I don’t think the data supports that.”
- Several people declared their support for bacon on this discussion board.
- Chris Lamb blogs on The Guardian website that “a report into links between diet and cancer contained some useful advice, but the attack on red and processed meats was a step too far.”
- A coalition of pork organizations worldwide is questioning the results of the study.
- In an article on The Scotsman website, cancer professor Karol Sikora makes the point that “there is nothing new from this report and it has created an awful lot of stress amongst people, and cancer patients now feel that if they’d only eaten more sensibly in their lives they wouldn’t be in the situation they’re in…We know diet is related to cancer, but what is the real message? It can’t be “don’t drink, don’t eat bacon” because that’s just too simplistic. All this report has done has added to the confusion.”
- At the blog Lacer’s Life, the author writes “although I take some of these types of reports seriously…I know full well there are advantages and disadvantages to most types of food and I know I need my protein, so pancetta at least for me is still on the menu.”
- And for a satirical view, check out The Daily Mash. They sum it up better than anyone by telling the health experts to “go f$#@ themselves.”
A lot of people are really fired up. And it sounds like this debate is just getting started. Onward soldiers!