FROZEN MEAT AND CANCER

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1680, 11 May 1904, Page 67

FROZEN MEAT AND CANCER

EXPERT DISMISSES STARTLING THEORY OF TRANSMISSION. Frozen meat as a possible source of cancer was suggested in a question asked in tho House of Commons on Monday, March. 14th, by Mr Alfred Davies. The President of the Local Government Board was asked if he had any official information showing that the stoppage of decomposition in irozen and chilled meat during transit from abroad to the United Kingdom had any injurious effect on those eating such food, and 1 especially whether it contributed to the increasing number of cases of cancer. Mr Long replied that he had no information to the effect suggested. Whether the eating of frozen meat had any influence in producing cases of cancer was a question to which the attention of the Cancer Research Committee now sitting might properly be drawn. He had had the matter under his attention. and would consider what steps should be taken with regard to it. ‘'There is no reason-to believe," said an expert to a "Daily Chronicle" representative. "that foreign meat is any more cancerous than homenfed meat, and: if the meat be good in the first instance, freezing or prolonged cold storage cannot pos* sibly introduce tlie igenn of disease. If there be danger in eating chilled meat there is danger in eating fresh English meat. But even if a man were to eat cancerous! meat—which is less probable mow than formerly, in view of stricter supervision—it would not set up cancer. Besides," the expert added, “there is always on© good safeguard—thorough cooking. Those who lear cancer communication should see that their food is cooked properly."