You’ve heard of fake news, but have you heard about fake causes of cancer?
Until recently, I hadn’t either!
But now, British researchers are saying that we’re all unnecessarily worried about “mythical” cancer triggers — such as food additives, cellphones, and 10 others that they say shouldn’t be any cause for concern.
It would be wonderful if they were right… if our daily lives weren’t filled with innocent activities and choices that are closely linked to many kinds of cancers.
But if you intend to do everything in your power to dodge cancer, it’s important to know that these so-called scientists are the ones who are actually giving out fake facts.
Foolish fakery
I’m not sure what kind of mission Dr. Samuel Smith (from the UK’s University of Leeds) is on, but I do know that Big Food, the wireless industry, and plenty of other corporations that produce a lot of the risky things we’re exposed to everyday must love him!
Dr. Smith, along with researchers at University College London, did a survey of over 1,300 Brits about different possible causes of cancer.
Smoking, genetics, and age were all correctly identified as likely suspects.
But the people surveyed also named 12 other carcinogens we’re routinely exposed to. And that’s when these scientific Sherlocks went off the rails, saying that anyone who worries about such ridiculous things is spending too much time on social media and that “it’s vital to improve public education about the causes of cancer.”
That sounds like a great idea — and the first ones who are in need of some educating are these researchers! Because their top three “fake” causes of cancer are anything but, starting with…
#1. Food additives
That category runs the gamut from natural flavorings like molasses to potentially harmful (but not necessarily cancer-causing) “enhancers” like MSG. But just because some food additives aren’t carcinogenic, that doesn’t mean that they’re all in the clear — because also included under that umbrella is potassium bromate (a.k.a. brominated flour, found in breads and other bakery products), which Europe, China, Canada, and Brazil have banned for its ability to cause cancer in lab animals. And that was discovered over 30 years ago!
Plus that, there’s also BHA and BHT (preservatives found in cereals, gum, desserts, and processed meats), which the World Health Organization considers “possible” carcinogens. And California’s “Proposition 65” list of cancer-causing chemicals just so happens to include BHA.
Food additives also include numerous artificial colors, including the notorious Red #3, which has been proven to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
#2. Artificial sweeteners
Technically, these are also food additives, and they’re also connected to a variety of cancers. At the top of the list is aspartame, a.k.a. NutraSweet, which, like the food additive MSG, is a brain-damaging compound known as an “excitotoxin.”
Numerous industry studies done decades ago have linked aspartame to brain tumors in rodents. In fact, well-respected scientist Dr. John Olney called those cancer findings “incredible and unprecedented.”
And in the years since the FDA approved it, many experts have been trying to undo the mess that agency has put us in, including a New Mexico pediatrician who filed a lengthy, fact-filled citizen’s petition with the FDA asking that aspartame’s approval be withdrawn since it’s “always been known” to cause cancer.
#3. Mobile phones
Seriously, how could anyone put the entire issue of cellphone safety into “fake” file? As you’ve read right here in the eAlert, the cellphone cancer issue is far from settled.
Just last month, I told you how a big investigation unraveled the cover-up put into play by the wireless industry so that we would never learn the whole story about the risks involved in these devices. And even the WHO has labeled cellphone radiation as a “possible” human carcinogen.
Reading this kind of disinformation is enough to make you want to bang your head against the wall, especially since Dr. Smith claims that there’s “no convincing evidence” that anything on his fake list is linked to cancer. And unbelievably, the media is running with this story as if it has any credibility to it!
Despite Dr. Smith and his colleagues’ mockery of some extremely legitimate causes for concern, these dangers are the real McCoy, and you need to do everything in your power to avoid exposure to them.
Because as the good doctor indicated, there’s plenty of fake news out there. Only his study is at the top of the heap!
“A worrying number of people believe in fake causes of cancer” Victoria Forster, April 26, 2018, Forbes, forbes.com
