So the wife and I turned vegetarian......

[Sinister]

Maybe so (and I definitely agree that steak is better rare). Notwithstanding, it says "those with the highest intake of very well-done meat had a 70 percent higher risk for pancreatic cancer over those with the lowest consumption." That doesn't imply that the people with the 70 percent lower risk ate just as much rarer meat to make up for it...

Right, but it seems like there are other factors which would come into play.  I guess you would have to read the whole study to understand how they corrected for such factors. 

[ducatiz]

Maybe so (and I definitely agree that steak is better rare). Notwithstanding, it says "those with the highest intake of very well-done meat had a 70 percent higher risk for pancreatic cancer over those with the lowest consumption." That doesn't imply that the people with the 70 percent lower risk ate just as much rarer meat to make up for it...

you are correct, and this is a flaw in the study, since the cooking style confounds the results.. is the increase due to cooking or is it due to the meat itself?

if it is due to the cooking style itself, then the comments made that "meat causes higher pancreatic cancer" are false and worthless.

[lauramonster]

it also doesn't differentiate between charcoal or gas.  I would think anything that uses an accelerant would be worse (quick lighting charcoal that's been infused with lighter). 

does the study use a vegetarian control group that grills all their foods?  That way it takes the cooking method out of the equation.

[ducatiz]

it also doesn't differentiate between charcoal or gas.  I would think anything that uses an accelerant would be worse (quick lighting charcoal that's been infused with lighter). 

does the study use a vegetarian control group that grills all their foods?  That way it takes the cooking method out of the equation.

very good observation. 

at least two major confounds in this study.

[Howie]

it also doesn't differentiate between charcoal or gas.  I would think anything that uses an accelerant would be worse (quick lighting charcoal that's been infused with lighter). 

does the study use a vegetarian control group that grills all their foods?  That way it takes the cooking method out of the equation.

Are you insinuating charcoal lighter fluid is not good for you?  Next you will question the health risk of whatever they use to bind the charcoal dust together to make briquettes   I use real charcoal, not briquettes and don't use lighter fluid.

Another question is what are the real numbers?  Just making up numbers here, but if the norm for pancreatic cancer is 1 for every 100, 000 people and the charred meat group statistic is 1.7 for every 100, 000 people is the 70% increase in risk meaningful or even realistic?  I doubt.  Now, change that to the norm being 1,000 for every 100,000 people and the charred meat group statistic is 1700 for every 100,000 people the 70% increase in risk is now reason for concern.