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6 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday May 27, 2003 SCOMMENT Safe dining program adds bit of insurance Since the beginning of May, dining out in Halton became a lot safer thanks to, the implementation of the health department's Dinewise food safety program. Restaurants participating ini the program make available upon request to their diners and potential diners a summary inspection report that outtines whether the restaurant has met basic food safety standards required by provincial legislation. As well, the restaurant posts a certificate of inspection. Surely, residents should feel confident the establishment they're eat- ing in bas paid due diligence to, the eatery's cleanliness and that staff are following proper hygiene practices. Restaurants that have met standards certainly won't lose any cus- tomers by posting their inspection certificates and letting their clientele know they consider proper food handling and storage important aspects of running a restaurant. Enjoying a night out in a local restaurant should be a pleasurable and safe experience. The Dinewise program is an added bit of insurance it will be. -A MMDCOW IN A SARS MASK BEING BITTEN BY A WEST NILE MOSQUITO. O UR READERS WRITE Reader says you have to carefully research ail the facts before you can make an înformed judgment on an issue like smoking Dear Editor: I've heen following local smoking bylaw discussions with some interest. What 1 find Most interesting are the numbers that appear to be inaccurate on hoth sides of the discussion. In Murray Townsend's recent column regarding DSRs, he states that hars have an 80 per cent smoking and a 20 per cent non- smoking clientele ratio. These numhers were printed in The Champion at the beginning of the discussion and apply only 10 Bingo Country. Overaîl however, 1 believe Mr. Townsend presented a welI- reasoned article that clanified the issues. One of the letters to the cditor referred 10 a helief that exposure 10 second-hand smoke could increase the chance of devel- oping lung cancer hy 5t0 per cent. According to an article hy Tom Utley in the Daily Telegraph. anti-smoking groupir have put the increased risk of lung cancer among those who live with smokers at 20 per cent and the increased risk of heani dis- ease at 30 per cent. The results of a 40-year study involving 35,500 husbandir and wives married 10 smokers were recenîly published in the +THE CANADL41N CHA4MPION Box 248, 191 Main St. E. Milton. Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Editofial Fax: 905-878-4943 Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classified: 905-875-3300 Circulation: 905-878-5947 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver Associate Publire/e Jil Davis Editor.-in-C/îief Karen Smith Edtor Wendy McNab Adrertising Manager Steve Crozier Circulation Manager Teri Casas Office Manager Tim Cotes Production Manager The Canadian Champion, tublistred euery Tuesday anid Friday ai 191 Mars St. E , Mloun. Ont., L9T 4N9 (Bnn 248), is one nf The Merniand PrntinigPublishirig & Disinbuting ttd. 5nnupuofsassras cnmpanies which inicludes Aax/Pickering News Aduertiser, Allistnn Heald/Courier, Barrie Aduanlce. Barry's Bay Tis Week, Bolteni Enierprise, Bramptnn Guardiani Builîngins Post, Belngtnn Shnpping News, Cty Parent, Cty ni York Geardian, CnlingwnndN.iasaga Cnnnectionn.East Yrk Mirnif Erin Aduncate/Cuuntry Rnutes, Eobicoke Guardian, Flamnbnrnuglr Posi. Frever Yung, Gergetown Independenit/Actnn Fse Press, Haltoni Business Times, Hersra Business Times, Kingstnn This Week, Lndsay Thins Week, Markham Econnmist & Sun, Mdand/Penetanguishene Mrrur. Miron Shonpping News, Mssîssauga Business Times, Missssauga News, Napanes Guide, Nassagaweya News, Newmarkeildurnea Fia-Banner, Nortumberland News, Nrth Ynrk Mrîne GOakuile Beauer. Oakeille Shonpping News, Gidimers Hnckey News, Orillira Tnday, Oshawa/Wihitby/ClaringtonPort Perry Tiis Week, Peterboroughr Tbis Week. Pîcione Gnuty Garde. Rcirmond H iI/Thrnilllaut han tiberai. ScarbornuGirMirer, Stouiivrtte/Udbridge Tribune, Aduetirsing is accepted on tireconedition tiratin tire evenit uf a typo- graphical errer, tht porin ni the adnerisrng space nccujrred by the eten- nenus item, togeiber wiur a reasnnable altumance lui signature, wiii oi Se cbarged lui, but tire balance ofthtie adedîisement wiii 0e pard toi aise appli- cable rate. The pebisirn eseenes thee rgt in categnrie adnetisements un decline. Tihe Miton Canaern Chamoen s a Recyclable Product British Medical Joumnal. The researchers. Dr. James Enstrom and Professor Geoffrey Kahot. lound no hard evidence Io substan- tiate anything as high as the 20 and 30 per cent increases. They concluded, 'Exposure 10 environmenîal tohacco smoke could not plausihly cause a 30 per cent increase in the risk of coronary heart disease.- They also stated, "It seems premature 10 conclude that environmenîal tohacco smoke causes death from coronaty heani disease and lung cancer." The results of their extensive and long- term study met with a ftrestonn of criti- cism. Both researchers are non-smokers and stood 10 lose their professional credi- hility hy puhlishing their findings. A Queen's University researcher recent- y completed a study indicating that alco- hol consumption increases the risk of hreast cancer more than smoking. In any study, i's important 10 ftnd out how large a sampling was used and how long the study was conducted. Larger studies confirm the results of smaller preliminary studies. The small Pud î N IN A M O -b 9I- E. c.ADe study produces useful avenues of research, hut the smallness of the sampling can lead to the wrong conclusion. When any discussion hecomes politi- cized, il hecomes more difficult 10 discem where the truth lies. Certainly none of us would argue that smoking is good for you, hut you can'î read only what you agree with and expect to he well informed. I've neyer smoked and patronize only non-smoking restau- rants. But 1 don't think that 1 have the right 10 put someone out of business or treat a smoker like a leper. DSRs are a compromise and a very expensive one, which will only he permit- ted for a few years. Anoîher fact recently floaîed in the Iet- tenr t0 the editor was that the strengîh of marijuana has increased by 25 limes since the 1960s. l'd like îo know whaî the writer's source was for this information. Sophie Cheney Milton FAMIIX CAR AND WEARIN& A NaC HN-ME-POWN MX . BUT CAi MD AT LEAST \WEAR A CUVýR~ Letters welcome T h e C an ad ia n C ha mp io n welcomes Jet- ters to the edi- tor. We reserve the right to edit, revise and reject letters. Letters must be signed and the address and telephone number of the writer includ- ed. You can fax letters to (905) 878-4943, e- mail them to miltoned @hait onsearch.com or drop them off at The Champion, 191 Main St. by Steve Nease 1 1 -1 .àý A.1ý ..- .-ou A-1- 1 1