Under The Angsana Tree: Processed meat can lead to cancer

WHO links processed meat to cancer

The World Health Organisation (WHO) released a report Monday which placed processed meats, including bacon and sausages, in the same category as smoking and asbestos for causing cancer.

The report revealed that as little as two slices of bacon can increase the risk of colorectal (bowel) cancer by 18%.

If the meat eaters among us choked on their sausages as they read the report over breakfast, the vegetarian reaction - at least on Twitter - was a little more smug.

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Processed meat and cancer – what you need to know

You’ve probably seen today’s headlines, about the fact that processed meat has been classified as a ‘definite’ cause of cancer. And red meat is a ‘probable’ cause.

The decision – coordinated by a respected international body – has been so highly anticipated by the media that speculation about the announcement has been building since last week.

But a link between certain types of meat and some forms of cancer – notably bowel cancer – isn’t ‘new’ news – the evidence has been building for decades, and is supported by a lot of careful research.

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How to have your meat and eat it, too

Bacon is fried up in a pan in a kitchen in this photo illustration in Golden, Colorado, on Oct 26, 2015. Photo: Reuters

Eat as little bacon, ham and other processed meat as possible, and observe general guidelines for healthy living that include not smoking, exercising and eating more fruits and vegetables.

This was the advice of experts in Singapore, in the wake of a World Health Organization agency saying on Monday (Oct 26) that processed meat causes colorectal cancer. The 22 experts from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) also said red meat probably causes cancer.

The agency reviewed over 800 studies before concluding that each 50-gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 per cent. The evidence showing that red meat — which includes beef, pork and mutton — causes colorectal cancer is limited, but red meat has also been linked to pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.

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Eating bacon, hot dogs once in a while is not harmful, say experts

The key is moderation, experts say, adding that diet is but one aspect of cancer risk

Wolfing down a slice of bacon once in a while is not going to cause any lasting damage, local doctors said on Wednesday (Oct 28) in response to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) latest report that processed meats could raise the risk of colon cancer.

The same goes for luncheon meat and hot dogs, according to Dr Zee Ying Kiat, a senior consultant in medical oncology at Parkway Cancer Centre.

"My personal approach is that if you are the type who eats processed meats all the time, you might want to cut down," he said.

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Bad Day For Bacon

The World Health Organization has deemed that processed meats — such as bacon, sausages and hot dogs — cause cancer.

In addition, the WHO says red meats including beef, pork, veal and lamb are "probably carcinogenic" to people.

A group of 22 scientists reviewed the evidence linking red meat and processed meat consumption to cancer, and concluded that eating processed meats regularly increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Their evidence review is explained in an article published in The Lancet.

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Processed meats do cause cancer - WHO

"Eating a bacon bap every once in a while isn't going to do much harm - having a healthy diet is all about moderation"

Prof Tim Key, from the Cancer Research UK and the University of Oxford, said: "This decision doesn't mean you need to stop eating any red and processed meat, but if you eat lots of it you may want to think about cutting down.

Dr Teresa Norat, one of the advisors to the WHO report and from Imperial College London, said there were many factors causing bowel cancer. She told BBC News website: "People should limit consumption of red meat and avoid consuming processed meat, but they should also have a diet rich in fibre, from fruit and vegetables and maintain an adequate body weight throughout life and limit the consumption of alcohol and be physically active."

The industry body the Meat Advisory Panel said "avoiding red meat in the diet is not a protective strategy against cancer" and said the focus should be alcohol, smoking and body weight.

related:
What is processed meat?
Processed meat 'early death' link
WHO meat report: UK reaction to cancer link
Red meat increases death, cancer and heart risk, says study
How safe is eating meat?

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Processed meat causes cancer, says WHO

The World Health Organization said Monday that eating processed meat such as sausages and ham causes cancer, while unprocessed red meat may also be carcinogenic.

The WHO's cancer research unit now classifies processed meat as "carcinogenic to humans" based on evidence from hundreds of studies, and linked it specifically to colon, or colorectal, cancer.

The report outlined that simply eating 50 grams of processed meat each day -- the equivalent of two slices of ham -- can increase the risk of such cancer by 18%. However, the authors say the risks are relatively small to begin with.

related:
Related: If meat causes cancer, what can you eat?
Related: Holy cow! India is the world's largest beef exporter

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Bacon and other processed meats can cause cancer, experts say

Eating processed meats like hot dogs, sausages and bacon can cause colorectal cancer in humans, and red meat is also a likely cause of the disease, World Health Organization (WHO) experts said.

The review by WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), released on Monday, said additionally that there was some link between the consumption of red meat and pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.

IARC classified processed meat as "carcinogenic to humans" on its group one list along with tobacco and asbestos, for which there is "sufficient evidence" of cancer links.

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Bacon, sausages, ham and other processed meats are cancer-causing, red meat probably is too

Processed meats like bacon, sausages and hot dogs can cause colon cancer and red meat is also a likely cause of the disease, World Health Organisation experts say, in a potentially heavy blow for the global meat industry.

Key points:

Analysis of 800 studies worldwide found evidence "consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer"
Varieties of meat include salted, cured, fermented and smoked meat, among others
Processed meat added to same category of cancer-causing agents as smoking and asbestos
Could account for 50,000 worldwide deaths per year
Scientists, nutritionists say moderation the best approach
"Farce to compare sausages with cigarettes": Agricultural Minister Barnaby Joyce
The analysis of 800 studies from around the world by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found "sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer".

"Each 50-gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 per cent," it said in a statement.

related:
Bacon is a likely cause of colon cancer, according to WHO experts
'Farce' to compare sausages with cigarettes: Joyce
Should I stop eating red meat? Experts weigh in on UN report

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Processed meats rank alongside smoking as cancer causes

Bacon, ham and sausages rank alongside cigarettes as a major cause of cancer, the World Health Organisation has said, placing cured and processed meats in the same category as asbestos, alcohol, arsenic and tobacco.

The report from the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer said there was enough evidence to rank processed meats as group 1 carcinogens because of a causal link with bowel cancer.

It places red meat in group 2A, as “probably carcinogenic to humans”. Eating red meat is also linked to pancreatic and prostate cancer, the IARC says.

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Processed meat and cancer link: Three charts that explain everything you need to know about the latest warning

You’ve probably seen today's headlines, about the fact that processed meat has been classified as a ‘definite’ cause of cancer. And red meat is a ‘probable’ cause.

The decision – coordinated by a respected international body – has been so highly anticipated by the media that speculation about the announcement has been building since last week.

But a link between certain types of meat and some forms of cancer – notably bowel cancer – isn’t ‘new’ news – the evidence has been building for decades, and is supported by a lot of careful research.

read more

Hot dogs, bacon and other processed meats cause cancer, World Health Organization declares

A research division of the World Health Organization announced Monday that bacon, sausage and other processed meats cause cancer and that red meat probably does, too.

The report by the influential group stakes out one of the most aggressive stances against meat taken by a major health organization, and it is expected to face stiff criticism in the United States.

The WHO findings were drafted by a panel of 22 international experts who reviewed decades of research on the link between red meat, processed meats and cancer. The panel reviewed animal experiments, studies of human diet and health, and cell processes that could explain how red meat might cause cancer.

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WHO: Processed meat can lead to cancer, red meat 'probable' cause

Eating processed meat can lead to bowel cancer in humans while red meat is a likely cause of the disease, World Health Organisation (WHO) experts said on Monday in findings that could sharpen debate over the merits of a meat-based diet.

The France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the WHO, put processed meat such as hot dogs and ham in its group 1 list, which already includes tobacco, asbestos and diesel fumes, for which there is "sufficient evidence" of cancer links.

"For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal (bowel) cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but this risk increases with the amount of meat consumed," Dr Kurt Straif of the IARC said in a statement.

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Should I stop eating red meat? Experts weigh in on UN report

The UN's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has warned that processed meats like sausages and ham cause bowel cancer, and red meat "probably" does too.

Does this mean we should stop eating meat? By the IARC's own account, meat has "known health benefits". And the agency says it does not know what a safe meat quota would be — or even if there is one.

Other specialists insist the report is no reason to drop steak from the menu, though it is probably wise for big eaters of it to cut back.

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WHO report on meat – farce or serious stuff?

Since news broke on Monday that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has ranked red and processed meat (including bacon, ham and sausages) as a major cause of cancer, opinions have been mixed, with some viewing the findings as “ridiculous.”

And governments too, particularly those among the top meat exporters such as Australia, have dissed the report.

To recap, the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), made up of international scientists who deliberated on the research for over a year, said in its report that there was enough evidence to rank processed meats as group 1 carcinogens because “of a causal link with bowel cancer.”

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WHO: EATING SAUSAGES, BACON & BAK KWA WILL CAUSE CANCER

Processed meats - such as bacon, sausages and ham - do cause cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Its report said 50g of processed meat a day - less than two slices of bacon - increased the chance of developing colorectal cancer by 18%. Meanwhile, it said red meats were "probably carcinogenic" but there was limited evidence.

The WHO did stress that meat also had health benefits. Cancer Research UK said this was a reason to cut down rather than give up red and processed meats. And added that an occasional bacon sandwich would do little harm.

What is processed meat? Processed meat has been modified to either extend its shelf life or change the taste and the main methods are smoking, curing, or adding salt or preservatives. Simply putting beef through a mincer does not mean the resulting mince is "processed" unless it is modified further. Processed meat includes bacon, sausages, hot dogs, salami, corned beef, beef jerky and ham as well as canned meat and meat-based sauces.

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Here’s why you shouldn’t panic & stop eating processed meat altogether

Your Facebook feed today (Oct. 27) is probably filled with news articles on the recent World Health Organisation’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) report that said processed meats causes cancer and red meat has some probable link to causing cancer.

News reports have focused on the classifying of processed meats as a Group 1 “carcinogenic to humans” agent while red meat is a Group 2 “probably carcinogenic to humans” agent.

Is this the end of your meat-loving days? Should you throw away the cans of luncheon meat in your zombie fallout survival kit? Before you do that, we help you make sense of the findings:

The 18 percent increased risk of colorectal cancer
The conclusiveness of the report
The comparison of processed meats with other Group 1 agents like Tobacco

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Cancer Causing Foods You Probably Eat Every Day

Processed meat

Lunch meat tends to be a favorite food, especially among the younger crowds out there. Unfortunately, food items such as ham, turkey, bacon, sausage, and even hot dogs, are loaded with chemical preservatives to help the meat appear fresh and healthy.

These preservatives can cause cancer within the human body, though. Both sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite have been known to increase the chances of contracting colon and other forms of cancer. Choosing uncured meat products made without the use of either preservative, and preferably grass-fed sources, is the best option for avoiding this issue altogether.

However, even eating processed meats in moderation can be fine. For those that eat it regularly, though, it may be time to switch to something on the healthier side of the spectrum in the near future. Be sure to check the labels on the meat you purchase within the store, or ask an associate at said store before buying.

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One man's meat is another man's confusion

I was happily munching away on steaks and the best prime cuts I could get from Japan when the World Health Organisation (WHO) dropped the bombshell that we should say no to red meat, sausages, etc.

The WHO announced that meat, especially the red variety, is linked to cancer of the bowel and colon. What do we do now?

In the wake of the WHO report, media health commentators have said we have to change our lifestyles.

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Processed meat linked to colon cancer: 7 things to know

Hot dogs and bacon cooking in a frying pan. They are classified as processed meat, which the World Health Organisation has said is linked to colon cancer.

Colon cancer - also known as colorectal or bowel cancer - affects the large intestine, which consists of the colon and rectum.

What are the implications of this revelation and how does it impact Singaporeans? Here are 7 things to know: