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California sues mcdonalds and potato chips over cancer Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://today.reuters.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2005-08-27T203236Z_01_HAR773949_RTRIDST_0_SCIENCE-FOOD-POTATO-LAWSUITS-DC.XML http://today.reuters.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2005-08-27T203236Z_01_HAR773949_RTRIDST_0_SCIENCE-FOOD-POTATO-LAWSUITS-DC.XML California files suit on french fry health warning Sat Aug 27, 2005 9:33 PM BST By Robert Selna SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Attorney General Bill Lockyer has filed a lawsuit to force top makers of potato chips and french fries to warn consumers about a potential cancer-causing chemical found in the popular snacks. In a complaint filed on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Lockyer sought an injunction to stop restaurant chains such as McDonald's Corp. and Wendy's International Inc. from selling french fries without some form of warning. Also named were producers of potato chips and other packaged potato products like PepsiCo's Frito-Lay Inc. and Procter & Gamble Co., makers of Pringles chips. The suit asks manufacturers of these products to identify the dangers of high levels of acrylamide, a chemical that studies have found is created when starchy foods are cooked at high heat. "I know from personal experience that, while these snacks may not be a necessary part of a healthy diet, they sure taste good," Lockyer said in a statement. "But I, and all consumers, should have the information we need to make informed decisions about the food we eat." The lawsuit alleges that companies have violated a state law passed in 1986 requiring companies to provide warnings before exposing people to known carcinogens or reproductive toxins. In 2002, scientists found potatoes and other starchy foods cooked at high temperatures contained low levels of acrylamide. Other studies have discounted the potential toxicity of acrylamide to humans. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STUDYING ACRYLAMIDE LEVELS The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is studying the impact of acrylamide levels in food. In a March press release, the FDA said "acrylamide can cause cancer in laboratory animals at high doses, although it is not clear whether it causes cancer in humans at the much lower levels found in food." Acrylamide is also widely used for industrial purposes, including sewage treatment. Other defendants named in the suit include Burger King Corp., KFC Corp., a unit of Yum Brands Inc., for its KFC Potato Wedges, Kettle Foods Inc., makers of Kettle chips, which bills itself as a natural health food brand, and Cape Cod Potato Chips Co. of Hyannis, Massachusetts, a unit of Lance Inc.. In June, a California consumer group pressed the attorney general's office to take this action. At that time, Frito-Lay issued a statement saying its "food safety standards are very stringent and meet all federal and state regulations." Procter & Gamble spokeswoman Kay Puryear said company researchers have been investigating issues raised by the 2002 acrylamide study, she said. "Acrylamide is available whether those foods are prepared in a restaurant, at home or by the packaged goods industry," she said. "We stand behind, and absolutely think, our products are as safe as ever." Burger King spokeswoman Edna Johnson said she had not seen the suit because her company's Miami headquarters had been closed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. "As a matter of company policy we don't comment on pending legal matters," she said. Spokesmen for McDonald's, Wendy's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Cape Cod Potato Chips, Yum Brands and Kettle Foods were not immediately available to comment on Saturday. Under state law, the attorney general's suit supersedes private claims filed by environmental groups in recent years against some of the same defendants. © Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

starches 1mil new skin cancer { May 27 2003 } 20 cancer fighting foods to eat all summer African american women higher breast cancer { December 7 2003 } All types of alcohol raise cancer risk Antibiotic use causes cancer Asians get cancer when in america Asians low cancer rate Beta carotene supplements Blacks more likely die cancer Breast cancer link to use of antibiotics Breast cancer risk reduced by exercise Broccoli helps prevent cancer { April 20 2005 } California sues mcdonalds and potato chips over cancer Cancer broccoli { May 28 2002 } Cancer causing drug found in british poultry { October 21 2004 } Cancer causing pesticides living in our bodies { June 21 2005 } Cancer deaths decline first time since 1930 { February 9 2006 } Cancer french fries { July 3 2002 } Car exhausts may cause child cancer Carbohydrates could be linked to breast cancer { August 9 2004 } Carcinogen sealed glass jar foods Carrots help cut cancer risk Curry fights cancer Curry fights prostate cancer study says { January 17 2006 } Curry shuts down melanoma cancer tumors Diet alcohol linked to one third cancer cases { May 20 2004 } Diet and tobacco account for most cancer Diet responsible for half cancers says fox files [wav] Doctor in africa discovers western diet is cancerous { February 28 1911 } Eating red meat increases risk of colon cancer Eu beef cancer { May 4 1999 } Fatty diet linked to cancer { March 21 2007 } Garlic wards off cancer Good night sleep fights cancer Green tea cuts risk of cancer Green tea reduces risk prostate cancer Hair dyes linked to kind of cancer { January 24 2004 } High fat diet increases breast cancer risk High fat linked breast cancer { July 18 2003 } High fiber reduces colon cancer { May 2 2003 } High sugar diet linked to cancer { March 21 2007 } Hormones in milk are linked to cancer Meat and alcohol cause breast cancer Meats and sweets boost cancer risk { July 10 2007 } Microwaving plastic causes cancer in foods Milk cause of cancer Miso soup cuts breast cancer { June 18 2003 } More causes cancer Natural solutions for estrogen New study says sun screen ineffective { June 15 2006 } Nonfat milk linked to prostate cancer Obesity linked to cancer { January 9 2006 } One third cancer caused by diet Pill linked to cancer { April 3 2003 } Processed meats raise risk of cancer Prostate testing debate Red meat cancer { April 30 1996 } Red meat diets cause cancer { April 7 2004 } Red meat fuels bowel cancer risk { June 15 2005 } Redheads risk of skin cancer without burns { August 29 2005 } Regular aspirin use linked to cancer cases { January 9 2004 } Study links breast cancer to antibiotic use { February 16 2004 } Sun exposure may aid skin cancer victims { February 2 2005 } Sunlight vit d prevents breast colon lung prostate cancer Sunscreen blamed skin cancer Sunscreens fails to prevent free radicals Sunshine helps fight against breast cancer { August 4 2007 } Sunshine may protect prostate from cancer { June 15 2005 } Tea may fight ovarian cancer Toxin in pet food eaten by chickens fed to people { May 4 2007 } Toxins in the kitchen { May 4 2007 } Vegetables and soy combats cancer Vegetarian diet helps man fight cancer { June 7 2007 } Vitamins tied to prostate cancer Western asians higher cancer than eastern { June 1 2001 } White wine increase risk of cancer Women double risk for lung cancer { December 2 2003 } Women plagued by lung cancer Files Listed: 78

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