World Health Organization Says Bacon’s Cancer Risk As Bad As Cigarettes
Many are anxiously awaiting the World Health Organization’s full report to be published in the The Lancet Oncology journal on Monday, October 25, which appears will reclassify bacon and other processed meats as being “carcinogenic to humans”.
This is the highest possible carcinogen ranking and processed meats will share the same stage as alcohol, asbestos, arsenic, and cigarettes in promoting cancer risk.
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) held an international gathering of the world’s top health experts and organizations to examine the effects of processed and red meat on health.
Representatives of national and international health agencies included Anna Christodoulidou of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Irini Margaritis of the French Agency for Food, Environment and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES), Yukari Totsuka of the National Cancer Center Research Institute of Japan, and Harold Seifried of the National Cancer Institute of the U.S., who of course was able to attend. You can find the full participant list here, Full Participant List.
The meat industry has gone on the offensive to protect its image, even before report has been released, to cause doubt in the minds of consumers that the consumption of processed meats raise the risk of developing cancer.
Professor Robert Pickard, who is a member of the Meat Advisory Panel, said:
“No one food gives you cancer and speculating ahead of the World Health Organisation announcement creates a situation of confusing messages.”
“What we do know is that avoiding red meat in the diet is not a protective strategy against cancer.”
Not a protective strategy? This is coming from a person who is employed by the meat industry and would rather protect its profits over listening to the top world health organization’s recommendations to protect the health of consumers.
Tags: cancer awareness
