Food Standards Agency Declares Ham Sandwiches Safe!
It is a well known fact that the media over-hypes everything as a way of making money. Although a bit of hysteria is normally harmless, the recent claims that children should not be given ham sandwiches in their lunchboxes hit a nerve with food hygiene specialists across the country.
The claim was that red and processed meats can and do cause bowel cancer, hence the media hype that children should not be put at risk by being given sandwiches made from such foods. The FSA, however, has declared that whilst there is some evidence to link the aforementioned foods to bowel cancer, there is “no evidence that the occasional ham sandwich will increase the risk.”
The key, they say, is to ensure children eat a balanced diet, comprising of a variety of foods and normally avoiding those that are very high in fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt. Processed meats like ham, the FSA claim, can form part of a balanced diet, though do contain high levels of saturated fat and salt so probably shouldn’t be eaten too often. The FSA recommended that parents consider filling their child’s sandwiches with a range of fillings, including chicken and fish for variety. Meat, like any other kind of food, should be eaten in moderation.
