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The American Cancer Society (ACS) has recently slammed Michael Jordan for smoking cigars, calling him a bad example for young people. Here at PETA, we can’t help but laugh– the ACS berates a man for smoking because it’s linked to cancer, yet continues to serve cancer-linked fare at their “Cattle Baron's Ball” fundraising events.

In an article from as far back as 1999, the American Cancer Society recognizes that animal product consumption leads to higher risk of cancer. “Our results showed diet was the most influential factor in modifying the risk of prostate cancer,” said James R. Hebert, ScD, lead author and Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. “Populations having diets high in animal products will have increased rates of prostate cancer mortality.”

In our letter to the ACS, we point out that "[y]ou can't possibly expect anyone to think that you are serious about fighting cancer until you promote and serve proven cancer-preventing vegetarian meals at your events. . . . [Y]our Web site even admits that '[p]opulation studies have linked vegetarian diets with a decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and colon cancer.' In his letter to Jordan, your spokesperson wrote, 'When high-profile athletes publicly display unhealthful habits, they can mislead young people to emulate their behavior.' Isn't it safe to say that when a high-profile health group publicly promotes unhealthy habits like meat consumption, it is also misleading Americans, young and old?"

So no cancer-linked smoking, but serving cancer-linked animal flesh at a cancer fundraising event is ok? Gotcha.

Posted by Carrie Ann Harris

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OK, so companies are trying to find a way to cut costs. And who can blame them, given the current economic outlook?

Enter Weyco, Inc., a healthcare-benefits administration company, which has already insisted that its employees quit smoking because of the impact on their health. The company also refuses to hire smokers. We applaud Weyco's efforts to improve the health of their workforce and suggest they go further. After all, it's clear that eating meat and other animal parts raises the risk of cancer and heart disease, among other health problems. So in addition to the "cancer sticks"—what about the drumsticks?

To that end, our own Linday Rajt, manager of our vegan campaign, dropped Weyco a line. The following is a part of her letter to the company:

To help staff members who currently eat meat transition to a healthy vegetarian diet, we recommend providing all employees with a free, delicious vegetarian lunch every day. Once employees sample tasty meals, like vegetarian shepherd's pie and Buffalo wing-style "chicken" nuggets (meat-free and made from plant protein)—and as they shed unwanted pounds and feel more energetic—they will realize how easy it is to eat healthy foods.

At which point, she offered to send them free copies of our "Vegetarian Starter Kit." If you don't already have your own copy of the starter kit, go on over to GoVeg.com, and get one free! After all, it's your health at stake!

Posted by Jeff Mackey