To boost revenue in a time of stagnant donations, the American Cancer Society (ACS) is allowing Florida citrus growers to use the ACS name for $1 million. Apparently the move will put the ACS seal of approval on citrus products. Just like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval or the American Dental Association label on toothpaste.
An ACS spokesperson told the Associated Press that
After very serious consideration and review we determined that companies that are producing products that support the missions and programs of the American Cancer Society would be acceptable business partners for us.And while there is no proof that orange juice prevents cancer, the ACS stated that orange juice can be part of a healthy diet and "eating healthy is one of the major preventative measures against cancer."
OH YEAH!?
In 1993, the National Cancer Institute funded one of the largest and best conducted studies of lung cancer in nonsmoking women (Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1996;85: 1906-1916).
This study reported that nonsmoking women who consumed the most citrus juice and citrus fruits had a 152 percent greater rate of lung cancer than nonsmoking women who consumed the least citrus juice and citrus fruits.
As far as junk science goes, the results are pretty strong. The 95 percent confidence level was a 34 percent, to 375 percent increase in lung cancer rate. The reported trend for increasing lung cancer rates with increasing consumption was very unlikely to occur by chance (i.e., only a 0.2 percent likelihood of occurring by chance).The authors acknowledged that they could not explain away the link between citrus consumption and lung cancer. I SURE HOPE THAT THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CAN!
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