NI ‘not put off Ulster fry’ by cancer link

The review by the WHO’s global Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), released on Monday, put processed meat in its group 1 list, which also includes tobacco and asbestos, for which there is “sufficient evidence” of cancer links.

Meat can be processed in various ways, through salting, curing, fermentation or smoking.

The report says that eating the equivalent of two slices of ham can increase the risk for cancer up to 18 percent.

Their conclusion – there is enough evidence that processed meats are linked to cancer.

A member from the Meat Advisory Panel states that limiting red meat consumption is not the solution to avoid cancer but smoking cessation, maintaining the body’s BMI and limiting alcohol intake.

In a statement, IARC said that in view of the large number of people who consume processed meat, their findings are a valid public health concern.

Red meats, such as beef and lamb, were placed in Group 2A which was labeled as “probably carcinogenic to humans” because of links to both prostate and pancreatic cancer.

It involved 22 scientists from 10 countries evaluating past research together, and considered dozens of types of cancer as well as factoring cultural diet differences. “Therefore, these results are important in enabling governments and worldwide regulatory agencies to conduct risk assessments, in order to balance the risks and benefits of eating red meat and processed meat and to provide the best possible dietary recommendations”. The North American Meat Institute said the report “defies common sense”, adding that cancer is a complex disease that’s not caused by single foods, NPR reported.

The World Health Organization says processed meat increases colon, stomach, and other cancers. The message sent by World Health Organization will make you realize that the decision you made yesterday to eat hot dogs could have been a bad one.

Researchers classified processed meats as carcinogenic, definitely linking them to colorectal cancer.

As well, the IARC also defined unprocessed red meat as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”.