Grilled Chicken and Vegetables: A Recipe for Cancer?

Grilled Chicken and Vegetables: A Recipe for Cancer?

In January, 2010, the KFC National Council & Advertising Cooperative, the group that reps U.S. franchisees, decided to sue Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) to get control of the advertising strategy. This came in the wake of poor sales: second-quarter revenue at American KFCs (those open for a year or more) decreased 7 percent.(1)

Many franchisees have voiced disapproval over a couple KFC decisions. Last year, the company introduced grilled chicken and the slogan, “Unthink KFC.” Recently, however, sales of grilled chicken have sunk, according to Larry Starkey, owner of seven KFC franchises.

Are people beginning to “Unthink KFC” and grilled chicken?

Carcinogen

This month, a medical non-profit’s lawsuit over a carcinogen found in grilled chicken is set to continue, after a California appeals court reversed a ruling. (2)

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), tested grilled chicken samples from several chain restaurants, including ones from McDonald’s. The organization said in court filings that the tests found the presence of a carcinogenic chemical called PhIP, which is produced through the cooking process used by the fast food chains.

So the committee filed suit, saying that the restaurants are required to post warnings under a California law which stipulates that businesses cannot expose individuals to chemicals known to cause cancer “without first giving clear and reasonable warning.”

The restaurants countered that the state rule was preempted because such signage would contradict federal efforts to guarantee that food was cooked sufficiently to prevent the spread of food-borne illness.

The restaurants all know that the grilled chicken has a cancer causing agent in them, said Neal Barnard, president of the physicians group. They ought to share with you what they know.

McDonald’s referred comment to the California Restaurant Association, where spokesman Daniel Conway lambasted the charges of misleading consumers. He said the levels of PhIP in grilled chicken didn’t merit concern and that a proliferation of signs like the ones demanded in the suit would do nothing more than cause consumers to ignore warnings of greater consequence.

“My biggest message is that grilled chicken is safe,” he said. “Bottom line.”

But what do the scientists say? read full story at Heroin and Cornflakes...