Processed meat is a carcinogen, WHO report declares

A new report from the World Health Organization has indicated that processed meat should be considered a major contributor to cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the WHO, has evaluated the carcinogenicity of the consumption of red and processed meat, conducting a thorough review of the accumulated scientific literature.

It was determined that, based on sufficient evidence, processed meat should be classified as carcinogenic to humans, with each 50 g portion of processed meat eaten daily increasing the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent.

The report also stated that consumption of red meat is probably carcinogenic to humans,  based on limited evidence, and that there is strong mechanistic evidence supporting a carcinogenic effect.

Both types of meat were linked to an elevated risk of colorectal cancer, with associations also seen for pancreatic and prostate cancer in the case of red meat.

Dr Christopher Wild, director of the IARC, said: "These results are important in enabling governments and international regulatory agencies to conduct risk assessments, in order to balance the risks and benefits of eating red meat and processed meat and to provide the best possible dietary recommendations."