Cancer and your Grill

The following article talks about a recent study where BBQ (and if you read it, they actually mean GRILLING, not BBQing) is linked to cancer

so I will say it again: they're talking about grilling meat, not bbq, tho this article title and others like it are linking BBQ with cancer.

That said, here's a link

http://www.usaweekend.com/01_issues/010701/010701eatsmart.html

I really do wish the media would get it right on this; slow-cooked barbecue where the outside surface isn't subjected to high heat is not the same as grilled meat. And they always discuss this in the context of home grilling, not restaurants. Why wouldn't restaurant-grilled meats be just as bad as home-grilled ones.

I did an informal study at home and drinking Budweiser while grilling dramatically reduces the HCAs in food.

Seriously though, it seems someone tries to take the fun out of everything.

I am not sure that what I am about to mention is what TJ mean't but I read years ago that when you use charcoal, it emits certain carcinogens that can perhaps cause cancer. I am not sure that this was ever authenicated but it was published perhaps 30 years ago.

It did not cause me any immediate concerns as I continued to charcoal grill and I am 65 and as of a few months ago, I had no cancer or was not sick.

You never know!

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by NebGuy

I did an informal study at home and drinking Budweiser while grilling dramatically reduces the HCAs in food.

I'll trust the field research.

I personally believe that food articles written by Chicken Little busy-bodies contribute to brain cancer.

I just turned fifty one and have a problem caused solvent exposure. Grilling is one of my minor problems.

They told us butter was BAAAAD for us. Now they tell us butter is GOOOOD for us.

What I know is that butter is good, fat is good, cream is good, alcohol in all its digetible forms is good, BBQ is good, hot dogs are good, spedies are good, grilled cheese sandwiches are good, streak is good, lamb chops are good. etc. And all the pseudo science . and half baked religious ideas, and fun hating pundits are not going to change my eating and drinking habits.

Eat drink and be merry fellow Roadfooders.

cheers, John

Whatever it is... barbecue, grilling, charcoal... it's worth the risk.

They didn't mention in the article that study several years ago that indicted cooking meat on the grill DIRECTLY OVER the charcoal as carcinogenic.

The fat dripping on the coals and then smoking was the culprit, and a drip pan with indirect heat was the way to go.

I think it's a good report. See I live in a fairly affluent neighborhood, lots of young professionals that are very health concious. So my guess is that I'm going to get a new grill and smoker either real cheap or free. Hope they through out their charcol also. Chow Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Gizmolito

They didn't mention in the article that study several years ago that indicted cooking meat on the grill DIRECTLY OVER the charcoal as carcinogenic.

The fat dripping on the coals and then smoking was the culprit, and a drip pan with indirect heat was the way to go.

Well I guess I got it a little wrong. At least I was partially right. I knew it had to do with Charcoal though.

At my age, it is sometimes difficult for me to remember what I did yesterday much less some article that was published many years ago.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Ya know. If someone promises me good health to age 150 if I give up some of the things I like, I'd think about it.
No?
Then I'll just grill some shrimp, Porterhouse, burgers and dogs next week.
Tell you what though, if there's a heaven and I get it in, I'm going to smoke some Kools and chew on crispy pork chop fat; things I gave up years ago!

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

quote:

Originally posted by Gizmolito

They didn't mention in the article that study several years ago that indicted cooking meat on the grill DIRECTLY OVER the charcoal as carcinogenic.

The fat dripping on the coals and then smoking was the culprit, and a drip pan with indirect heat was the way to go.

Well I guess I got it a little wrong. At least I was partially right. I knew it had to do with Charcoal though.

At my age, it is sometimes difficult for me to remember what I did yesterday much less some article that was published many years ago.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I wasn't referring to your post,Paul, just the article itself and what they left out.

I do remember adjusting my Webber Grill habits many years ago to put the coals to the side, drip pan in the center, and then adding soaked wood chips on the coals to add the smoke taste.

quote:

Originally posted by MilwFoodlovers

Ya know. If someone promises me good health to age 150 if I give up some of the things I like, I'd think about it.
No?
Then I'll just grill some shrimp, Porterhouse, burgers and dogs next week.
Tell you what though, if there's a heaven and I get it in, I'm going to smoke some Kools and chew on crispy pork chop fat; things I gave up years ago!

Milwfoodlover: I like the way you think.

I have personally had to give up some things. Mostly liquor. I used to have a cocktail every evening and now its more like once every two months.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Jimeats

I think it's a good report. See I live in a fairly affluent neighborhood, lots of young professionals that are very health concious. So my guess is that I'm going to get a new grill and smoker either real cheap or free. Hope they through out their charcol also. Chow Jim

If ya get 2, will you pass one my way?

I think this is a case of "everything in moderation" like Julia Child always said, whether it's grilled food, butter, liquor, etc. We use a gas grill out of convenience and time restraints on the part of the chef. But in the California desert, on vacation, it's charcoal all the way.

Though I was far younger back then.. But remember Johnny Carson doing the show about how leisure suits cause cancer? ha ha.. I knew there's a reason I never wore one!

But BBQ? I thought it was cooked low and slow.. As for any other grilling, I never burn the meat.. Just give it a serious sear, and soon as it's stops moo-ing I eat it...

I feel this is just another example of our goverment proving they dont know how to BBQ, (Cause they're burning their meat).. And taxpayers are paying for one Expensive BBQ so they can figure this out... (Where do I apply for this job??).

Milk is good for a body ...... Avoid all dairy
Avoid fat ...... Fat is essential to brain and nervous system health
Fish is the healthiest protein source ...... Pregnant women and children should avoid fish
Eat lots of fruits and vegetables ...... Fruits and vegetables have dangerous levels of pesticides.
Chocolate has too much fat and sugar ... Consume chocolate for its antioxidants
Carbs are good ...... Carbs are bad ... no wait, some are bad and some are good
Avoid saccharin ...... Saccharin is ok.
Avoid alcohol ...... Beer and wine may prevent cardiovascular disease.
Eat soy ...... Soy is linked to early dementia in men
Coffee ...... first it was good, then it's bad, now it's good.
Salt? ...... recent medical studies indicate it's not all bad.
Where does it all end??? ... Don't sleep too little ... Wake up!, Don't sleep too much! ...... Go to church ...... wait brother! ... uh, only the good die young!!!

Bar-b-que?? ...... it causes cancer ... No, WAIT ... barbque is a good source of lycopene and bioflavinoids ... uh ... but what if I have it with some beer? ... that's good, right? ... uh, and I'll have it with vegetables ... no ... only some vegetables ... uh ... approved vegetables .... ahhhhhhhhhhhh! ...

As I recall, Mad Magazine did a funny parody about this confusion back in the '70's.
Mad Magazine ... the only sane voice of modern times???

The final answer is probably somewhere in between.
I think it's really about balance ...
lleechef has it right ... All things in in moderation.

Some of the most well-reasoned advice seems to have come at the end of Monty Python's "Meaning of Life" ...
"Thank you, Brigitte. M-hmm. Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try and be nice to people, avoid eating too much fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations. and, finally, here are some completely gratuitous ...<ahem, sorry ... end of quote>".

And to my way of thinkin, Barbque goes a long way in the "peace and harmony" department.

Sonny GREAT POST! Moderation in Moderation... Buon Fortuna, Ciao Jim

What did they do? Feed mice all the grilled meat they could eat for every meal for 3 years? Yeah, some of them got cancer.

Me? I still going to grill my ribeyes, burgers and dogs. BBQ my ribs, brisket and shoulders. I don't care what they say.

MikeS.

If BBQ'n and grillin causes cancer, then please Lord, just take me now.

quote:

Originally posted by dholk

If BBQ'n and grillin causes cancer, then please Lord, just take me now.

Don't be to hastey. I'd ask him to wait {nicely} so I could spark up the grill one last time. Chow Jim

Sunday dinner, 2 nice ribeyes, baked potatoes, brocolli & cauliflower and maybe some fresh homemade bread. Thats whats for dinner! Steaks done on the grill, of course.

MikeS.

The article was published in 2001 (?) and the researched quoted sources are from 1996-2000, some ten years old right now. Are we taking any prescribed drugs that are ten years old?

This looks like a "filler" article that came out of a file cabinet to get another issue out and gain readership. Any updates or contradictions to this article will be found rather undramatically on the last page of another issue.

I can see the ad now for this - " We constantly flip our burgers at a furious pace after microwaveing them to ensure an even grey color and texture without any nasty cancer causing grill marks. We previously had thought that well done meat simply ruined our product but now, with our new information, we have been made aware that well done meat is terminally decreasing our customer base. The Management."