Do frozen foods cause Crohn's disease?
Categories: Safety, Eating & Nutrition
And now, something new to worry about when you feed your kids. According to a study by Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Royal Children's Hospital in Australia, frozen foods may be making people sick. The culprit is not the foods themselves, but a certain bacteria which thrives in freezing temperatures. This bacteria was found to be present in almost half of all newly diagnosed cases of Crohn's disease in that country.
Millions of people worldwide suffer from Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disorder. In addition to the main gastro symptoms of the disease, it can also cause other problems such as skin rashes, arthritis, and eye inflammations. Children who are afflicted with the disease have difficulty eating and often have stunted growth.
"The worldwide increase in Crohn's disease far exceeds anything that can be explained by a genetic predisposition alone," RCH head of gastroenterology Dr Tony Catto-Smith said.
While experts have long known there is a genetic component to contracting this disease, they haven't ruled out environmental factors. This study does not offer conclusive proof that this bacteria found in frozen foods can cause Crohn's disease, but it might offer clues as to why more people seem to be contracting it.
Millions of people worldwide suffer from Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disorder. In addition to the main gastro symptoms of the disease, it can also cause other problems such as skin rashes, arthritis, and eye inflammations. Children who are afflicted with the disease have difficulty eating and often have stunted growth.
"The worldwide increase in Crohn's disease far exceeds anything that can be explained by a genetic predisposition alone," RCH head of gastroenterology Dr Tony Catto-Smith said.
While experts have long known there is a genetic component to contracting this disease, they haven't ruled out environmental factors. This study does not offer conclusive proof that this bacteria found in frozen foods can cause Crohn's disease, but it might offer clues as to why more people seem to be contracting it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lea 3-13-2007 @ 11:26AM
What?? Sometimes it seems like nothing is safe.
Several of my friends have Crohn's. It can be so debilitating, not to mention emotionally difficult.
- L
http://www.quickservekids.com
Reply