Bacon, sausages, other processed meat poses cancer risk

A new report from the World Health Organization says eating processed meat causes cancer, and that red meat probably does too.

After reviewing the accumulated scientific literature, a working group of 22 experts from 10 countries convened by the IARC, processed meat was classified as carcinogenic to humans based on sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer.

It says processed meats can lead to colon, stomach and other cancers and red meat is probably cancer-causing as well.

Processed meat is meat that has been preserved by curing, salting, smoking, drying or canning.

In the case of processed meat, which includes sliced ham, frankfurters, cured and dried products, the IARC experts declared it “carcinogenic to humans” with each daily 50 gramme portion increasing the risk of cancer by almost 20 per cent.

“It’s kind of unreal that that they’re putting it at the same level as tobacco”, said Ed Drew, who eats meat four times a week.

You’re heard it before – cut out the processed meat for a healthier diet.

Processed meat definitely causes bowel cancer, according to scientists.

The risk of cancer could increase due to the additions and high temperature cooking such as on a barbeque that could also create carcinogenic chemicals.

The North American Meat Institute scoffed at the report, saying it ignored “numerous” studies showing no link between meat and cancer.

Doctor David Agus, a leading cancer specialist at the University of Southern California, said the lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is about 5 percent.

One man said: “Everybody’s afraid of cancer but everything’s supposed to give you cancer now, that’s what they’re telling you”. “You might as well keep doing what you’re doing and eat whatever makes you happy”.

The World Health Organization placed processed meats in the same broad category as cigarettes and asbestos, but according to Dr. Mark Hiatt with Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, that doesn’t mean they are similarly unsafe.