NationStates Jolt Archive

Source (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050827/ap_on_he_me/fries_warning_lawsuit)
Apparently, some lawyer is suing to get warning labels on fried potato foods because they allegedly contain a cancer-causing substance. I think they should change California to the "Warning Label state"

They could probably save money if they just post signs bearing the warning labels at the California border.

Ach, if they put warning labels on all the other foods that contain those same substances, people would starve. The "allegations" are true, btw.

Because we all know people read what's on the side of a french fry box or on a bag of chips...

California scares me sometimes. And I live there.

This is pretty ridiculous; it's like putting a warning label on apples because they contain cyanide, or wine because it contains methanol, or on coffee and tea because they contain tannins. Foods naturally contain small amounts of carcinogens, and it's ridiculous to put warning labels on everything because it's a waste of time and money for producers and consumers alike.

sure, next they'll be having warning labels on packets of crisps saying 'warning may lead to obesity' or on a bottle of gin 'warning will almost certainly lead to a hangover and possible bitterness in mid-life crisis in older women'

Well how potent are the cancer-causing agents? Because I'd certainly like to know if eating a bag of Lays is like 30 years of smoking.

Starchy things, when fried, will produce a certain chemical that can cause cancer. Potatoes are nearly pure starch, so go figure. The "alleged" is a bit misleading since patatoe chips, fried potatoes, french fries, and a lot of other things increase the risk of getting cancer by a bit. A bit.

To discuss the point Vetalia made: They don't "naturally" contain it. This is caused by frying them. Boiling potatoes has no such by product.
(In case anyone cares, I still love eating fried potatoes, and the "side effects" aren't going to stop me :p )