Red meat is also “probably” carcinogenic, with associations mainly with bowel cancer, but also with pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report.
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WHO’s report revealed that even two slices of processed meat, like bacon, can increase the colorectal or bowel cancer risk by 18 percent.
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says there are many theories why red and processed meat may be linked to cancer, but no scientific consensus has been reached.
The study defines processed meat as any type of meat that has been salted, cured or smoked to preserve it or enhance its flavour. Samples of processed meats are hot dogs, corned beef, ham, bacon, beef jerky, salami, sausages, meat-based sauces and canned meat. “Our own analyses show that such moderate consumption of red meat is not associated with a notable increase in colorectal cancer risk”.
The researchers placed processed meat in the “Group 1” category.
Scientists specifically point to the added nitrites or nitrates, the chemicals added to processed meat for them to last long in storage, as the main cancer-causing component.
And of course you already knew this: You can nearly assuredly improve your healthy and longevity by eating less red meat and more food from plants; eating processed meats only occasionally and always sparingly is better still.
The research indicates most harm from eating processed meats appears in colorectal cancers, which is where their study was focused, while smoking is known to be particularly related to lungs.
Red meat on sale at Hamarwayne market in Mogadishu, Somalia. Customers at Herbert’s Specialty meat in Maurice are not deterred by the new study.
Red meat refers to all mammalian muscle meat, including, beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse and goat. They link cancer to those meats putting a few of the most prized meals and meat snacks on the butcher block.
The World Health Organization uses five different classifications for carcinogenic groups ranging from the group one products that definitely cause cancer to group four which probably don’t cause cancer.
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The WHO’s global Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, analyzed decades of research and for the first time put processed meats in the same danger category as smoking or asbestos.
