Last month I mentioned the UK newspaper the Daily Mail, and its rather credulous publication of a theory on the alignment of ancient monuments put out by an amateur historian. It was a bit of fun, and nobody got hurt. But I really do need to pay tribute to this fine and upstanding publication for its regular in-depth science coverage and specifically for its comprehensive health warnings. Most of all, I appreciate being alerted to things that could give me cancer.

I was reminded of this valuable public service recently when I was invited to join a Facebook group called ‘The Daily Mail list of things that give you cancer’. Everything from aspirin to vitamins, via cheese, money, and shaving, can give you cancer according to this newspaper. It’s list of purported carcinogens grows on an almost daily basis, much to the chagrin of actual cancer researchers.

A life lived according to the Daily Mail guidelines for cancer prevention would be hardly worth living, but happily there is an alternative approach. Landing in my inbox this week was some research from scientists in Italy and Belgium, which looked at ways of preventing cancer through diet. Surprisingly, the actual science does not exactly support the Mail’s recommendations.

Professor Attilio Giacosa from the Policlinico di Monza in Italy, and Professor Jaak Janssens, President of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation in Belgium, come up with what sounds like common sense advice about fresh fruit and vegetables and a balanced diet - but also have a couple of surprises.

Giacosa recommends oranges, garlic, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts as the most beneficial foods, along with a glass or two of red wine every day. These are by now well-established recommendations, but what is new are the recommendations to use microwaves and sharp knives to prepare the foods. He says that the optimal approach is to consume vegetables grown within zero kilometres of where you live, and in season. That’s all very well if you live in Monza, as the professor does, but zero-kilometre fresh oranges are quite hard to come by at the northern latitude where I live.

“Using proper tools like sharp knives reduces the waste of crucial essences,” he continues, adding that “it’s really important to promote microwaved and steamed cooking, two great techniques.”

Microwaves, of course, are a long-standing villain of newspaper scare stories - along with other sources of radiation including mobile phones and electric light. But the thing about knives has set me thinking. How long before we see the Daily Mail headline: “Blunt knives give you cancer”?
This comment was originally published in the Laboratorytalk Newsletter