United Nations health experts: Processed meat “does cause cancer”

Asked about whether meat should be in the same group as tobacco, Mr Joyce said: “no it should not be compared to cigarettes and obviously that would make the whole thing a farce”.

Red meat, which includes beef, pork and lamb, is “probably carcinogenic to humans”, they said, with colorectal cancer the most commonly related disease.

W.H.O.’s global Agency for Research on Cancer put out the report that these meats may increase cancer risk.

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.

After years of talk and research, the truth has finally come to light with the determination that processed meats, such as hot dogs and bacon do cause cancer.

The researchers defined processed meat as anything transformed to improve its flavour or preserve it – including salting, curing or smoking.

Cancer Research United Kingdom said this was a reason to cut down rather than give up red and processed meats.

The study says there is “strong mechanistic evidence” that links eating red and processed meats to colorectal cancer, which is the second most lethal form of cancer in the U.S.

The experts found that eating 50 grams of processed meat, on the daily basis, raised the likelihood of getting cancer of the colon and rectum by 18 percent. Red meat was placed in Group 2, as “probably carcinogenic to humans”.

They noted that red meat contains important nutrients but said it was associated with a few cancers in several studies.

NBC points out that this isn’t exactly new information, as these types of meats have been linked to cancer before.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said the scientists who issued the report were split on their decision to make an explicit link between red meat with cancer.

In a Q & A released by the IARC, the agency says that “eating meat has known health benefits”, but it also points out that the cancer risk increases with the amount of meat consumed.