The IARC reviewed a few 80 studies and estimated 50 grams of processed meat eaten daily boosts the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent.
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The WHO’s cancer agency evaluated more than 800 studies that looked at the association of cancer with eating red meat or processed meat.
Work by the global Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the WHO’s cancer division, has defined processed meats as “carcinogenic to humans”. At Bolner’s they don’t do processed meat and can’t defend that part of the meat industry, but they take pride in what they do when it comes to red meat.
Processed meat such as bacon can cause bowel cancer, while red meat is likely to cause the disease as well, the World Health Organization said.
The agency’s director, Dr Christopher Wild, said that the findings support recommendations for people to limit their meat intake.
“We’ve always been very supportive that beef, just like any other food or drink, in moderation can be very healthy and very beneficial to people eating it”, Russell said.
The researcher team, made up of 22 scientists, concluded that processed meats are in the same category as tobacco smoking and asbestos in terms of being a cancer risk.
For the study, the organization analyzed processed meats or those that went through smoking, fermentation, curing, salting and other methods used to enhance their flavor and maintain preservation.
The Lancet paper points out that red meat also contains “high biological-value proteins and important micronutrients such as B vitamins, iron and zinc”.
If processed meat products are added in the list, the demand for these products can decrease significantly that can in turn hamper major processors and meat producers.
According to a Q&A posted on the IARC website, red meat is defined as mammalian muscle meat, including, beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse, and goat. The World Cancer Research Fund advises having no more than 500g of red meat per week.
Processed meat was classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer.
“You may not eat a lot of processed meat”, said Thad Boyer, a Sioux City resident.
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The final version of the guidelines should provide a more precise idea of how much Processed Meat and Red Meat is appropriate.
