Bye bye bacon

On October 26, 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that eating processed meat (beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse, goat, etc.) causes cancer and that unprocessed red meat may also be carcinogenic.  During the press release, the WHO’S cancer research unit now classifies processed meat as “carcinogenic to humans” based on evidence from hundreds or studies.  They have linked it specifically to colon cancer.

The meat industry groups slammed the WHO report as biased and misleading but the experts concluded that every 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colon cancer by 18%.  The WHO said the finding was important for public health because processed meat is so widely consumed.

However, it said red meat still has “nutritional value.” “These results are important in enabling governments and international regulatory agencies to conduct risk assessments, to balance the risks and benefits of eating red meat and processed meat and to offer the best possible dietary recommendations,” said Christopher Wild, head of the WHO’s cancer agency.  So it would be a good idea for the public health to lower their intake of red meat and not take this news lightly.