110944 Tue Jun 25 19:15:30 -0700 2002 8 7 Chicago Area 0 599758 As you might have heard from any one of a number of news sources, the World Health Organization held an emergency meeting today to discuss potentially carcinogenic chemicals created as starchy food, like potatoes, are cooked at high heat -- that includes French fries, potato chips, and even potato pancakes. This is, indeed, a dire situation. Remember, though, that tomatoes contain anti-carcinogenic substances, so if you must eat French fries (as I must), make sure to douse them generously with catsup. For your health. Can there be any doubt that a higher power has ordained catsup to be the condiment of choice on fried potatoes – if not all food? There are abundant online resources that review the power of tomato-based sauces to fight cancer as well as perform a number of other salubrious tasks for humankind. A link to one of those sources is attached. Link: http://www.supplementwatch.com/supatoz/supplement.asp?supplementId=193 Tue Jun 25 19:15:30 -0700 2002 0 David Hammond 1 599777 While you still won't catch me putting catsup on my sausages (brats or weiners), I do want to back Dave up on this cancer thing. As noted in his linked article, the cancer fighting properties of tomatoes are vastly increased by processing: "The bioavailability of lycopene is increased following cooking – so processed tomato products such as ketchup, tomato juice and pizza sauce have more bioavailable lycopene than do fresh tomatoes." I guess I'll have to increase my shrimp cocktail consumption, a much more pleasurable way to get catsup. Rob Wed Jun 26 10:19:34 -0700 2002 599758 0 Vital Information 2 599784 FYI - the research is good, and folks are excited about it, particularly Hunt's, which funded some of the studies ;) Wed Jun 26 12:25:51 -0700 2002 599777 0 regular poster, anon (sorry) 3 599786 I knew there was a good reason to throw an extra tomato into the ratatouille last night! Wed Jun 26 13:01:45 -0700 2002 599784 0 Lady T 4 599796 The ketchup King AKA Dave Hammond will find any excuse to promote his favorite. All kidding aside, could ketchup be the wonder drug of the future. Wed Jun 26 14:25:58 -0700 2002 599786 0 Paulette 3 599790 Hey Anon, Thanks for the smiley emoticon -- if the science is right, as you recognize, the source of the funding for the research is not relevant. I mean, who is more likely to fund research into catsup? The Mustard-Makers of Dijon? And the value of tomato-based sauces extends beyond the world's greatest condiment to include cocktail sauce (as VI noted), but also marinara sauces, salsa and the whole universe of deliciousness that revolves around the crimson sun. One other point about the WHO broh-haha: as usual, to get a carcinogenic dose from fried potatoes, you'd have to eat a hell of a lot. In so many of these studies, dosage is a critical factor, and the quantities consumed to generate a carcinogenic effect are usually quite massive (i.e., more than even a voracious eater could reasonably consume). Wed Jun 26 13:34:11 -0700 2002 599784 0 David Hammmond 4 599802 Do voracious eaters ever eat reasonable quanitities? Wed Jun 26 15:38:18 -0700 2002 599790 0 annieb 1 599803 The only thing I ever agreed with Ronald Reagan about was the vegetable status of ketchup. Wed Jun 26 15:39:58 -0700 2002 599758 0 annieb 1 599871 Cancer fighting can be done with a better catsup. Brooks is available at Eagle Markets and the lone Piggly Wiggly in Grayslake. In a blind taste test; with my daughters as judges, Brooks won hands down, beating Hunts, Heinz, and the purple stuff. This catsup is much better than the average stuff. Family lore holds that we moved from Minnesota to Missouri just for Brooks catsup. Check this stuff out. Sat Jun 29 00:03:46 -0700 2002 599758 0 Ben D