On September 22, 2020, a group of physicians took cancer concerns to new heights. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) filed a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when they failed to require warning labels on cheese products. (1)
Cancer Warnings Law Suit
On October 3, 2019 the PCRM sent their petition to the FDA. The petition requested warning labels on dairy cheese stating, “Dairy cheese contains reproductive hormones that may increase breast cancer mortality risk.” They also provided data supporting their request. (1)
The petition states: “To ensure that Americans understand the potential significant risks, and resulting long-term costs, of consuming dairy cheese products, the FDA should ensure that the notice above is prominently placed on product packaging and labeling for all dairy cheese products.” (1)
Cancer Warnings To Reduce Risk
According to PCRM, multiple studies tied dairy cheese to breast cancer including: (1)
- Women who consumed the most American, cheddar, and cream cheeses increased their risk for breast cancer by 53%.
- The insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) along with other growth hormones in dairy are the main contributors to breast cancer risks.
- Consuming 2 to 3 cups of milk daily increased risk by 80%.
- Women drinking soy milk instead of cow milk saw a 32% reduced risk of breast cancer.
- Women with breast cancer consuming one or more servings of high-fat dairy products had a 49% higher breast cancer mortality rate.
Cancer Warnings For Breast Cancer
“The 2015 Dietary Guidelines state that ‘Breast cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States’ and acknowledge evidence ‘that healthy eating patterns also are associated with a reduced risk of . . . postmenopausal breast cancers[.]’ … Yet the document’s ‘Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern’ recommends consuming three cups of dairy per day, which can increase breast cancer risk,” states the lawsuit. (1)
Conflicts Of Interest For Dietary Guide
There have been issues with the experts who contribute to Dietary Guidelines. The lawsuit alleges, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) failed to respond to two Freedom of Information Act appeals. The appeals related to possible conflicts of interest and financial disclosures for members of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The committee included members nominated by the dairy, egg, and meat industries. (1)
“The 2015 Dietary Guidelines’ Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern—which recommends 3 cups of dairy daily, including cheese—could be putting Americans at risk for breast cancer,” says Susan Levin, MS, RD. “Americans have the right to know if this potentially deadly recommendation was influenced by Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee members profiting from the dairy industry.” (1)
Stars Help With Cancer Warnings
Mary Steenburgen, Ted Danson, and Alicia Silverstone appear in new public service announcements to help reduce the risk for breast cancer. The “Let’s Beat Breast Cancer” campaign encourages women to adopt life changes to fight the disease. “What you eat can either fuel cancer or help your body seek and destroy it,” says Kristi Funk, MD, breast cancer surgeon and lead ambassador for the campaign. “Eating whole, colorful plant foods helps your body defend itself from rogue cancer cells.” (2)
With more than 42,000 breast cancer deaths predicted for 2020, having access to information to reduce risk certainly can’t hurt. (1)
