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Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Doctors Raise Anti-Hotdog Billboard Near Kauffman Stadium

Maybe Randall Simon was doing us a favor?

A provocative billboard will warn baseball fans flocking to the All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium on July 10 that eating hot dogs can greatly increase their risk of colorectal cancer. The billboard, sponsored by the nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, reads “Warning: Hot Dogs Can Strike You Out—For Good,” and directs readers to www.PCRM.org.

The billboard features an image of hot dogs jammed into a cigarette pack labeled “Unlucky Strikes,” and is located at the exit ramp to Kauffman Stadium on I-435 one mile south of I-70. PCRM has also written a letter to Jim Rowland, executive director of the Jackson County Sport Complex Authority which owns and operates Kauffman Stadium, asking him to require warning labels on all hot dogs served at Kauffman Stadium. The label would read: “Warning: Hot Dogs and Other Processed Meats Increase the Risk of Colon and Rectal Cancer.”

“Hot dogs can cause cancer, and like cigarettes they should come with a warning label,” says PCRM chief medical officer Ulka Agarwal. “Just one hot dog a day increases a person’s colorectal cancer risk by 21 percent. Add to that other processed meats people could be eating daily, like bacon, pepperoni, and sausage, and the health risk multiplies.”

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 03, 2012 at 03:33 PM | 64 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: cancer, hot dogs, royals

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1. depletion Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:12 PM (#4172626)

Hey! Eat me.

2. Graham Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:19 PM (#4172631)

Who eats a hot dog per day? I have an unhealthy diet, but I don't come close to eating hot dog, bacon, pepperoni, or sausage on a daily basis.

3. phredbird

Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:24 PM (#4172637)

what 2 says. really, i can't just have a hot dog when i go to a game? that one is going to kill me? i almost never eat hot dogs, baloney, etc. ... maybe once or twice a month i eat a couple of slices of pepperoni pizza. that's it. is that too much? really?

4. The elusive Robert Denby Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:26 PM (#4172641)

5. Sunday silence Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:30 PM (#4172646)

does anyone know the science behind this stat? Im skeptical but who knows?

6. Mayor Blomberg Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:32 PM (#4172651)

According to recent survey data obtained by the Council, Americans purchase 350 million pounds of hot dogs at retail stores - that's 9 billion hot dogs! But the actual number of hot dogs consumed by Americans is probably much larger. It is difficult to calculate the number of hot dogs Americans may eat at sporting events, local picnics and carnivals. The Council estimates Americans consume 20 billion hot dogs a year - more than twice the retail sales figures. That works out to about 70 hot dogs per person each year.

source

7. Mayor Blomberg Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:36 PM (#4172655)

Sunday, a good bit of it is likely nitrites. During the cooking process, nitrites combine with amines naturally present in meat to form carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds. It is also suspected that nitrites can combine with amines in the human stomach to form N-nitroso compounds.

8. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:36 PM (#4172656)

does anyone know the science behind this stat?

link

yetta nudder

9. Srul Itza Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:37 PM (#4172658)

So round, so firm, so fully packed.

10. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:37 PM (#4172659)

That works out to about 70 hot dogs per person each year.

wow--then I'm at least 1000 hot dogs behind you guys

11. McCoy Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:37 PM (#4172661)

Over the last two weeks I've eaten 12 ~~hot dogs~~ half-smokes. Plus on 8 of them I charred them in skillet.

12. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:38 PM (#4172663)

Right, what #2 says. I probably eat 5 hot dogs a year, although I have a fair amount of other "processed meats" in my diet if you count cured meats like bacon, smoked ham/turkey, etc. as "processed".

For what it's worth, according to this link the lifetime incidence of colorectal cancer is about 4.96% for people born today, so we are talking about your risk going from something like 5% to 6% if I understand the study correctly.

13. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:42 PM (#4172667)

I should add, that's without knowing any other personal history. If you have other risk factors for colorectal cancer the effect could be much greater. I have a friend with a family history of such cancer and she does not eat meat as a result.

14. Jim Furtado

Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:53 PM (#4172673)

Those doctors sound like real wieners.

15. PreservedFish Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:56 PM (#4172674)

Surprised you guys missed this:

According to recent survey data obtained by the Council, Americans purchase 350 million pounds of hot dogs at retail stores - that's 9 billion hot dogs!

No it isn't. Hot dogs are probably what, 3 ounces each? That's 2 billion hot dogs at most.

If the carnival/event math is just as wack, that 70 dogs/year number might be closer to 10-15.

16. Srul Itza Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:56 PM (#4172675)

Well, you know what El Tiante said -- It's great to be with a wiener.

17. dr. scott Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:56 PM (#4172676)

The advocacy group in question is in general a huge promoter of animal rights, and they tend to focus on health issues dealing with meat, and the issues of animal testing for research. Not to say that the science is wrong, but they certainly have an agenda in how they present the information. For instance, given the extra information in post 12, if you took two groups of 100 people 1 of which eats no hot dogs, and 1 eats 1 hot dog a day, you would not be able to statistically tell them apart from measuring colon cancer rates.

You could probably make a great guess just by looking at them though.

18. Steve Sparks Flying Everywhere Posted: July 03, 2012 at 06:57 PM (#4172677)

I refuse to believe that something as delicious as a grilled Hebrew National will kill me.

19. Bob Tufts Posted: July 03, 2012 at 07:03 PM (#4172683)

"I'll do whatever you say - just get that death weiner away from me."

20. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: July 03, 2012 at 07:03 PM (#4172684)

Dummy, you die? at the end. Didn't anyone tell you?

21. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: July 03, 2012 at 07:42 PM (#4172708)

Assuming the Armour song told the truth, hot dog consumption has been directly linked to chicken pox.

22. Lassus Posted: July 03, 2012 at 08:00 PM (#4172717)

I refuse to believe that something as delicious as a grilled Hebrew National will kill me.

Nathan's.

23. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: July 03, 2012 at 08:00 PM (#4172718)

He waits all patient out in the street.
All the honeys want to sample the meat.
He can't help but relish the fact
The foot-long keeps you coming back.

Once you're feeling safe and cool,
That's when the Weiner Man makes his move.
Mmm-m-mmm-m-mm-mm-mm-mmmm
You can't scream when your mouth is full.

He's comin' for ya!
He's gonna get ya!
Attack of the Weiner Man!

24. Bob Tufts Posted: July 03, 2012 at 08:18 PM (#4172726)

I hate to tell the people that posted the billboard, but it gave me an uncontrollable urge to grill some Nathan's hot dogs tonight for dinner - and just did so.

What the hell, I've already dealt with cancer as a random occurence, I might as well see what happens from something that supposedly is not random.

25. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: July 03, 2012 at 08:19 PM (#4172729)

“Just one hot dog a day increases a person’s colorectal cancer risk by 21 percent. Add to that other processed meats people could be eating daily, like bacon, pepperoni, and sausage, and the health risk multiplies.”

If I could possibly eat one hot dog per day AND consuming bacon, sausage etc. also EVERY day, AND my chance of colorectal cancer inreases by ONLY 21%, then I would consider those pretty good odds. You are consuming all that sh*t daily and my chances only rise by 1/5th, I say bring on the processed pork!
Of course the billboard was really sponsored by the Cattle and Chicken farmers of America.

26. McCoy Posted: July 03, 2012 at 08:20 PM (#4172730)

No it isn't. Hot dogs are probably what, 3 ounces each? That's 2 billion hot dogs at most

Your garden variety hot dog from the store weighs in at less than 2 ounces. Oscar Mayer's are 45g or 1.6oz. Nathan's are at 2oz and Hebrew Nationals are at 1.7oz.

27. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: July 03, 2012 at 08:21 PM (#4172731)

Funny NatLamp cartoon: A hot dog with arms and legs is at the mailbox, getting his mail. The card says "You may already be a wiener".

28. Steve Sparks Flying Everywhere Posted: July 03, 2012 at 09:05 PM (#4172759)

Didn't Matlock eat a hot dog every episode? Andy Griffith dies the same day this article is published? I smell a murder mystery to be solved.

29. PreservedFish Posted: July 03, 2012 at 09:28 PM (#4172771)

Your garden variety hot dog from the store weighs in at less than 2 ounces. Oscar Mayer's are 45g or 1.6oz. Nathan's are at 2oz and Hebrew Nationals are at 1.7oz.

OK. Their math is still horrible, or worse than horrible, intentionally and embarrassingly misleading.

The ballpark style dogs are probably up near 3 oz, I suppose.

30. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: July 03, 2012 at 09:54 PM (#4172783)

Hey, there's finally something interesting to see outside Kauffman Stadium.

31. Cooper Nielson Posted: July 03, 2012 at 10:01 PM (#4172786)

Who eats a hot dog per day?

Bud Selig does.

32. McCoy Posted: July 03, 2012 at 10:04 PM (#4172788)

OK. Their math is still horrible, or worse than horrible, intentionally and embarrassingly misleading.

Yeah, the actual number of everything combined might be around 9 billion hot dogs a year. Keep in mind that the source was a pro-hot dog site. That same site says that we eat over 22 million hot dogs at MLB stadiums and over 5 million sausages. They also state that excluding Wal-Mart that 700 million packages of hot dogs were sold in 2011. Most were 8 to a pack with 35% of them being 10 to a pack so if you throw in Wal-Mart I can kind of see how they might get near 9 billion.

The ballpark style dogs are probably up near 3 oz, I suppose.

I believe most are right around Nathan's size at 2oz.

33. Howie Menckel Posted: July 03, 2012 at 10:14 PM (#4172790)

Bill Veeck drank a case of beer per day, prompting some to wonder if he had a "wooden leg."

"Yes I do," he replied.

34. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: July 03, 2012 at 10:25 PM (#4172797)

as long as they don't say anything about bratwurst, I guess I'm ok with a one a day with secret stadium sauce.

35. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: July 03, 2012 at 10:35 PM (#4172802)

I've seen Selig at Gilles' getting his hotdog and smothering it with ketchup. Yuck (the ketchup), the hot dog, it's passing. He definitely is a man of routine. Our company has space in the same building as MLB's offices, the guy is like clockwork, and he often has a guy with him at all times when seen walking in the Galleria. I don't think I've ever seen him not engaged in a conversation with someone, either in person, or on the phone, and I've seen Selig 100s of times in person.

36. Dan Szymborski

Posted: July 03, 2012 at 10:55 PM (#4172804)

The billboard makes an important point, one that I, as an overweight man, will take to heart in the future. I will no longer eat 4 bunless, condiment-less hot dogs served in an empty pack of cigarettes. For now on, just one with kraut, onions, and mustard.

37. Jim Wisinski

Posted: July 03, 2012 at 11:21 PM (#4172811)

I believe most are right around Nathan's size at 2oz.

Yeah, the most common size package of store-bought hot dogs is exactly one pound so the bun-length/ballpark style ones are typically 2 oz. each since they come in 8-packs. As you mentioned above the regular size ones weigh in at about 1.6 each since they come in packs of 10.

38. Bob Evans Posted: July 04, 2012 at 12:23 AM (#4172840)

I am convinced. I will never smoke another hot dog.

39. Bhaakon Posted: July 04, 2012 at 12:33 AM (#4172851)

Arguments on dog weight aside, number of hot dogs purchased at retail is not the same as number consumed. Probably about a quarter of the hot dogs I buy end up in my dog's bowl or the garbage, though that's probably above average.

40. Dale Sams Posted: July 04, 2012 at 12:35 AM (#4172853)

So round, so firm, so fully packed

I got that.

41. boteman Posted: July 04, 2012 at 12:53 AM (#4172876)

I hope McCoy can clear up something for me: I'm told that "restauranteur" hot dogs that we got had less, or no, sugar which is why we could stack them up on the griddle for hours and they wouldn't turn into tiny little inedible black strips. Is this the case? Just curious while we're on the subject.

I prefer the Hebrew National knockwurst that come 4 to a pack. Publix sells them for a whopping $5 or more down here, so I wait for them to go on sale, a handy way to regulate my intake. They are much more plump than the average hot dog.

I split them lengthwise, A-Stand style. This allows a lot of the fat to cook away while still retaining enough juicy flavor for me to enjoy. You should see what's left in the pan when it cools and solidifies. The only trouble is that I can't find rolls that are wide enough to accommodate them. I guess that's another thing that you can only buy if you're in the biz.

42. bobm Posted: July 04, 2012 at 02:34 AM (#4172912)

Don't forget the Nathan's hot dog eating contest on the 4th!

From ifoce.com (International Federation of Competitive Eating)

WHAT:
Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest

WHEN:
Wednesday, July 4, 2012

WHERE:
Nathan’s Famous Flagship Restaurant
1310 Surf Avenue (at Stillwell Avenue)
Coney Island, Brooklyn

TIME:
10:00 a.m. Pre-Show Begins
11:30 a.m. Women’s Championship
12:00 p.m. Men’s Championship

Nathan’s Famous, Inc. has unveiled the official list of cities holding hot dog eating contests to qualify the champions who will compete in the 97th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest. The Nathan’s Famous qualifying tour occurs each year in cities across the U.S. and beyond. This year’s circuit will begin in Michigan on April 21st and visit 12 other cities before the world championship event takes place on July 4, 2012 at the Nathan’s Famous flagship in Coney Island, NY.

Qualifying events will occur at Nathan’s Famous retail locations, music festivals, city centers and Major League ballparks. The top male and top female finishers from each qualifier will earn a spot to compete in the ESPN televised finals at the original Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island on July Fourth. This year’s ESPN show will air on July 4th at 3:00 PM Eastern immediately following Wimbledon.

In recent years, an estimated 40,000 fans have made the pilgrimage to the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island to watch the Nathan’s Famous July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest in person. The live ESPN telecast of the event drew an audience of 1.95 million viewers in 2011. It was the highest rated telecast since ESPN began broadcasting the event in 2004.

Joey Chestnut of San Jose, CA holds the world record for eating 68 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs and Buns in 10 minutes, and he will seek his sixth straight title this year. Sonya Thomas of Alexandria, VA will defend her title as Female Champion. She consumed 40 Hot Dogs and Buns in 10 minutes last year.

Watch here live:
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/509585/2012-nathan-famous-hot-dog-eating-contest

43. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: July 04, 2012 at 04:08 AM (#4172918)

Free Takeru Kobayashi!

44. Tim McCarver's Orange Marmalade Posted: July 04, 2012 at 06:34 AM (#4172923)

These bozos have no concern for your health:

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., which promotes a vegan diet, preventive medicine, alternatives to animal research, and encourages what it describes as "higher standards of ethics and effectiveness in research."

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
They also have close connections with PETA:

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the foundation that manages it—the Foundation to Support Animal Protection, also known as the PETA Foundation—donated over $850,000 to PCRM between 1988 and 2000, and Barnard sat on the Foundation's board until 2005. Barnard also writes a medical column for Animal Times, PETA's magazine.[8]

It's not just hot dogs they don't want you to eat - it's any animal product whatsoever, including cheese and milk.

45. RMc and His Roster of Rubbish Posted: July 04, 2012 at 07:31 AM (#4172925)

I am convinced. I will never smoke another hot dog.

"I'm down to a pack a day!"

46. Lassus Posted: July 04, 2012 at 08:27 AM (#4172932)

As much as I love ballpark hot dogs, I admit I am among those who find competitive eating among the lowest common denominator of human activities. And when I say lowest, I really mean lowest, like, the sort of thing that makes me embarrassed to be human.

47. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: July 04, 2012 at 09:40 AM (#4172947)

God, I hate crap like this. The most annoying people are those ones that will send you links to some dumbass study for every little thing. I actually had a relative on facebook tell me to stop drinking seltzer (I gave up all sodas, even diet) because the bubbles cause burping which could lead to esophogeal cancer.

48. McCoy Posted: July 04, 2012 at 10:02 AM (#4172955)

Hebrew Nationals contain no sugar at all. Oscar Mayer contains 1g. Ball Park Franks contain 2g.

49. McCoy Posted: July 04, 2012 at 10:05 AM (#4172956)

Well, off to the Nationals game to eat a half smoke with cheese and chili.

50. PreservedFish Posted: July 04, 2012 at 10:13 AM (#4172959)

And when I say lowest, I really mean lowest, like, the sort of thing that makes me embarrassed to be human.

Like musical theater low?

51. bobm Posted: July 04, 2012 at 10:42 AM (#4172974)

[50]

And when I say lowest, I really mean lowest, like, the sort of thing that makes me embarrassed to be human.

Like musical theater low?

Or collegiate a capella low?

52. boteman Posted: July 04, 2012 at 10:43 AM (#4172975)

The P.C.R.M. is un-American!

baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and...Mom

53. BDC

Posted: July 04, 2012 at 11:01 AM (#4172981)

I do indulge on Dollar Hot Dog Night at the Ballpark, but that's what, scarcely a dozen hotdogs a year (and I have a clean bill from the pre-Obamacare colonscopy I mentioned in the other thread). Actually I had a Shack-cago Dog at the Madison Square Park Shake Shack in Manhattan last weekend: "dragged through the garden" with celery salt. Something's going to kill me anyway, after all.

54. phredbird

Posted: July 04, 2012 at 11:09 AM (#4172984)

stop drinking seltzer (I gave up all sodas, even diet) because the bubbles cause burping which could lead to esophogeal cancer.

whaaat? really?

55. Leroy Kincaid Posted: July 04, 2012 at 12:05 PM (#4173006)

I probably average about 2 hot dogs a week. Then again my diet is only slightly more variegated than Michael Kay's.

56. gef the talking mongoose Posted: July 04, 2012 at 12:27 PM (#4173016)

stop drinking seltzer (I gave up all sodas, even diet) because the bubbles cause burping which could lead to esophogeal cancer.

whaaat? really?

With Crohn's, I had to give up drinking anything carbonated about 6 or 7 years ago. I have no idea what the physiological impact was, but it was certainly real -- I might as well have been drinking carbolic acid, just about.

57. Rants Mulliniks (formerly Cold Prosimian) Posted: July 04, 2012 at 01:07 PM (#4173039)

I like the taste of hot dogs, but I wouldn't eat more than a half dozen a year, and those are usually the nitrite-free ones I buy at the farmer's market. I'd give up hotdogs for the rest of my life for tickets to a ball game. Bacon, on the other hand? Never.

58. bookbook Posted: July 04, 2012 at 04:24 PM (#4173127)

Being pro-health and being anti-meat are basically synonyms.

59. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: July 04, 2012 at 06:44 PM (#4173165)

Gef, I'm on the same type of restriction, with my Crohn's/Colitis. "GreatTasteNoPain". Others scoff, I swear by it. Saved my life (or, colon, at least), no matter what the naysayers say.

60. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: July 04, 2012 at 07:01 PM (#4173169)

i have eaten just about everything that walks or crawls and is then processed

sorry docs, still here

61. booond Posted: July 04, 2012 at 07:10 PM (#4173172)

i have eaten just about everything that walks or crawls and is then processed

sorry docs, still here

No offense, Harveys, but you're a small sample size.

62. gef the talking mongoose Posted: July 04, 2012 at 07:12 PM (#4173173)

"GreatTasteNoPain". Others scoff, I swear by it. Saved my life (or, colon, at least), no matter what the naysayers say.

Huh. First time I've heard of it, oddly enough.

Hmmmm.

63. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: July 04, 2012 at 07:15 PM (#4173175)

boo

then toss in bud

64. gef the talking mongoose Posted: July 04, 2012 at 07:19 PM (#4173180)

then toss in bud

Do you grow your own, or do you have a supplier?

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Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Doctors Raise Anti-Hotdog Billboard Near Kauffman Stadium

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