DOCTORS FILE COMPLAINT OVER USDA'S MISLEADING MEAT 'SAFETY' PROGRAM

Press Release, Tuesday August 22, 2000 9:03 am Eastern Time

Group Criticizes Campaign Featuring 'Thermy,' a Cartoon
Thermometer, for Trivializing Risks of Meat Consumption

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire/ --

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)
filed a complaint today with the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) over its new campaign promoting the use of thermometers
in meat preparation. The campaign features ``Thermy,'' a cartoon
thermometer, who claims: ``It's safe to bite when the temperature
is right.'' On the eve of Labor Day, one of the country's most popular
barbecue days, PCRM hopes to alert the American public that
meat is unsafe at any temperature.

``While a thermometer can indicate whether food is hot enough to
kill bacteria, it can't do a thing about measuring fat,
cholesterol, carcinogens, or all the other deadly hazards in
meat,'' says PCRM president Neal Barnard, M.D. ``To suggest that
meat is completely ''safe`` if cooked at a high temperature is a
deadly mistake. The USDA should not be ignoring the enormous body
of research linking meat consumption to cancer, diabetes, heart
disease, hypertension, and other serious health problems.''

PCRM's complaint argues that while heat may kill microorganisms,
it's useless against fat and cholesterol, two main culprits
implicated in the development of many chronic diseases. Moreover,
meats prepared under high cooking temperatures often contain
heterocyclic amines, potent carcinogens that form from amino
acids, creatine, and natural sugars.

``The bottom line is that meat is a risky food, whether or not
it's been cooked thoroughly,'' says Dr. Barnard. ``The USDA
would do better to promote a healthy, vegetarian diet.''

For a copy of PCRM's complaint or interviews with PCRM doctors
and dietitians, contact Ms. Simon Chaitowitz, Communications
Director, at 202-686-2210, ext. 309, or via e-mail at
simonc@pcrm.org.

Founded in 1985, PCRM is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
promoting preventive medicine, especially better nutrition, and
higher standards in research.

http://www.farmusa.org 1-888-FARM USA
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REFERENCES :

1: www.pcrm.org
http://www.dumpdairy.com/index2.html

2:http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6721-2000Aug22.html
www.upc-online.org (Unite Poultry Concerns)

3: www.meatstinks.com
www.farmsanctuary.org
www.hfa.org
"SLAUGHTERHOUSE" by Gail Eisnitiz .
"ANIMAL LIBERATION" by Dr. Peter Singer.

4: Reporter won milk lawsuit : Please click the following :
Greenpeace USA, August 22,2000
http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/features/trial.htm