Washington, D.C.— The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) applauds the U.S. Justice Department for filing a lawsuit against "Big Tobacco," but recommends it also investigate preparing a case against major meat producers and retailers. "Evidence suggests that meat consumption is linked to serious illness and common causes of death," says Neal D. Barnard, M.D., PCRM president.

"While President Clinton and many legislators are rightly concerned about lives and money lost each year to tobacco consumption, they're ignoring the effect of meat consumption," Barnard says. A study conducted by PCRM and published in Preventive Medicine in 1995 calculated that meat consumption is responsible for as much as $61 billion in annual U.S. medical costs. The conservative study looked at seven health problems linked to meat consumption, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, foodborne illness, and gallstones.

"An estimated 1.3 million Americans die of cancer, heart disease, and other diet-related causes each year," Barnard says. "It's time we looked at holding the meat producers and fast-food outlets legally accountable. Without their powerful influence, America would have a healthier diet and a healthier national treasury."

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit organization founded in 1985 and based in Washington, D.C., promotes preventive medicine and higher standards in research.

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