We're often advised to cut down on red meat and cut down on grilling if we want to lower our cancer risk.  Do we listen? Not very carefully. Why not? Let's face it, grilled food is so good! Therefore, it's nice to know that there are good scientific arguments that defend the consumption of grilled red meat.  For example, Virginia State scientists say there's no good evidence that MODERATE amounts of meat that's been grilled but not charred is a health hazard.  Moreover, grilling thin slices of meat let the fat to drip off, making the food healthier than if it had been cooked some other way.  There are many tips on safe grilling in the Shelf Life Advice article "How to Grill Safely." In addition, during the grilling season, the news media tell consumers quite a bit about how to improve the taste of grilled foods by proper handling before and during the grilling process.  What follows are some tips from recent newspaper articles and the experts they quote.

Are we consuming too much salt, and how much is too much? Has fast food become more healthful in response to consumer concerns? Despite its bad reputation, are Americans still eating a lot of fast food?  Are calorie counts affecting our menu choices in restaurants? Let's see what recent research has to say.

Ironic, isn't it? Switching from ground beef to ground turkey was supposed to give you a more healthful sandwich.  But now Consumer Reports (a non-profit, independent product-testing organization) has expressed great concern about the results of its recent study, which suggests that ground turkey may not be a healthful alternative. The turkey industry responded with its defense.  Consumers are left wondering whether to cross ground turkey off their shopping list or not.  Go back to ground beef?  Well, in addition to worrying about the long-term dangers of eating too much red meat, consumers may recall that, in 2011, the Environmental Working Group research found bacteria on 55% of raw ground beef. So, is it best to eat the bun without a patty? That's a tough blow just at the start of the major grilling season.

Don't you just hate people and publications that begrudge you your food freedom and tell you what to eat and what not to eat?  But there's no avoiding such advice, always given "for your own good." Well, for your own good, Shelf Life Advice is passing along some dietary tips we just found in two magazines and on one government website.