The State, Charles Platkin
Published March 28, 2006
Here's the rundown on some common fad food scares, with expert opinions about real concerns versus hype.
MAD COW DISEASE
Mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is a progressive, degenerative, ultimately fatal disease affecting the central nervous system of adult cattle. The exact cause is unknown, but scientists generally believe it results from infectious forms of a type of protein called prions, which are normally found in animals.
How you get it: "Humans don't get mad cow disease; the disease in humans is actually a variant form of Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease," which is believed to be caused by eating beef products from affected cattle, said Dr. Henry Miller of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University,.
Risk level:Experts agree the risk it poses to public health is extremely low.
How to avoid it:Unfortunately, there is no way to cook or prepare meat to eliminate the risk. "Those who are still concerned, despite the extremely low risk, can avoid processed meat products, such as hot dogs, because they are more likely to have nervous system tissue - but even those foods have minimal risk," advises Caroline Smith DeWaal of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
For more information:
www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bse.html
www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs113/en/
http://ecolabels.org/feature.cfm?FeatureID7&isPast1
NONSTICK COATINGS ON COOKING PANS
The biggest concern is the fumes pans emit at high temperatures. They can give humans flu-like symptoms - called "Teflon toxicosis" says Anne Singer of the Environmental Working Group - and can kill small birds. At 680 degrees Fahrenheit, non-stick pans release at least six toxic gases, including two carcinogens.
How you get it: Teflon toxicosis occurs when Teflon and other nonstick surfaces are heated to temperatures at which the coating breaks apart and emits toxic particles and gases. This breakdown has been linked to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pet bird deaths and an unknown number of human illnesses each year. As far as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA ) is concerned, it is not actually in Teflon coatings; they are a relatively minor source of exposure to PFOA, which the EPA says, potentially causes cancer in rats.
How to avoid it:Avoid overheating your pans.
Risk level:Very high for pet birds; unknown for humans.
More information:
www.ewg.org/reports/toxicteflon/es.php
www.epa.gov/oppt/pfoa/pfoainfo.htm
BIRD FLU (FROM EATING FOWL)
Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a contagious disease caused by viruses that normally infect birds and, less commonly, pigs. However, on rare occasions, avian flu has crossed the species barrier to infect humans.
How you get it: According to Miller, humans contract H5N1,a highly virulent H5N1 strain, from handling infected fowl or their carcasses or from exposure to their secretions or excrement. Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by their feces, is presently considered the main route of human infection. "There's no evidence that there is a risk of getting the influenza from consumption [of fowl]," says Smith DeWaal.
Risk level:Very low (from eating fowl).
How to avoid it:The World Health Organization reconfirms that when poultry products are safely handled and properly cooked - to 180 degrees Fahrenheit - humans are not at risk of H5N1 through eating. But juices from raw poultry should never touch items eaten raw. Those handling raw poultry should wash their hands thoroughly and clean and disinfect surfaces that have been in contact with the poultry products. Soap and hot water are sufficient.
