Processed meats do cause cancer - WHO

Space_1999 over 9 years ago

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.

www.bbc.co.uk/.../health-34615621

I must say I am very weary of this, I know people that have eaten bacon etc their who lifes for generations, and they did not get cancer.

Is anyone going to stop eating bacon etc now? I eat processed meat about once a month, if that these days.

Is there any truth in this new research, or is it just guess work while the real reasons remain unknown.

Offline kimchoson over 9 years ago

I did read this, its been suspected for a long time. There are choices to make in lifestyle that may reduce your chances of various cancers. Smoking Alcohol Obesity and lack of excercise being top of the list. It doesnt follow that all smokers get lung cancer or that non smokers wont get lung cancer. I have a relative who is 82 he still works full time as an estate manager and eats a full english breakfast every day. He can dig a trench or use a chainsaw with the best of them, he also has a quarter bottle of whiskey every evening. So there are many more factors to take into account when calculating who is likely to get cancer. The genes you inhereted from your parents being probably the biggest. The old adage everything in moderation is probably the best advice, instead of worrying about every new sensationalist scare story. Kim
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Offline river56 over 9 years ago

I saw this article but also saw on the news tonight they listed the larger contributers to cancers so to put it in perspective air pollution is linked to more cancers. So not only no more Bacon Butties but no more breathing.
I suppose like kimchosen said everything in moderation.
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Offline Moderator Helen over 9 years ago

Hello,
You might have seen the headlines today about the change in classification of red and processed meat, where processed meat is a ‘definite’ cause of cancer and red meat a ‘probable’ cause.
Our blog post tells you all you need to know: http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2015/10/26/processed-meat-and-cancer-what-you-need-to-know/
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Offline davek over 9 years ago in reply to river56

Predictable headlines in the tabloid press today along the lines of "Hands off our bacon butties!"
The mind boggles.
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Processed meats do cause cancer - WHO

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