The evidence that smoking causes lung cancer is definitive. It took a few decades, but cigarette packs now carry prominent health warnings to alert us to this risk.
Actually, it took one and a half decades and—this being Australia—the packs are now nothing but health warnings. Still, cigarettes are a "unique product" right?
Wrong.
When it comes to dietary patterns, convincing evidence collated by the World Cancer Research Fund also shows that regular consumption of some foods and drinks increases the risk for specific cancers.
It’s time to begin making consumers aware of the cancer risk associated with regular consumption of particular foods and drinks, through front-of-pack warning labels.
But cigarettes are the only legal product that kills "when used as intended by the manufacturer", right?
Wrong.
While the official recommendation is to limit alcoholic drinks to no more than two a day for men and one a day for women, when it comes to breast cancer risk there is no safe level of intake.
Fortunately I don't have breasts. No nannying for me, right?
For processed meat, there appears to be no completely safe level of intake
Aw, shucks. What if I don't eat meat?
The evidence indicates that salty and salt-preserved foods are probable causes of stomach cancer.
Doggonnit! Looks like it's a teetotal, salt-free, vegan life for me. Bring on the warnings.
Then comes the graphic warnings, then the display bans, then the plain packaging...
...and on... and on... and on...
Eric Crampton has more to say about this, including a good suggestion for what labels should be put on alcohol.
