World Health Organization Classifies Processed Meat As Cancer Causing
The Lancet Oncology journal reported
Twenty-two scientists from ten countries met at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in early October to evaluate the carcinogenicity of the consumption of processed meat and red meat.
The group of scientists reviewed more than 800 studies researching the diets of people of diverse ethnic backgrounds across multiple countries and continents.
The evaluation presented sufficient evidence to strongly link the consumption of processed meat with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. The evidence also showed a positive association with the increased risk of developing stomach cancer.
This prompted the World Health Organization to classify the consumption of processed meat as “carcinogenic to humans,” a group 1 classification which places the consumption of processed meat in the same classification as cigarettes, alcohol, and arsenic.
The bad news for the consumption of red meat doesn’t stop there. The WHO also classified the consumption of red meat as being “probably carcinogenic to humans,” a group 2A classification.
The WHO came to this conclusion by evaluating the same data, but was able to uncover as strong as an association with an increased risk of cancer as it was able to do with the consumption of processed meat.
The evidence did show a positive association between consumption of red meat and the increased risk of colorectal cancer. The consumption of red meat was also positively associated with increased risk of developing pancreatic and prostate cancer.
The classification of processed meat as “carcinogenic to humans,” and red meat as “probably carcinogenic to humans” will certainly bring about the wrath of the meat industry.
Tags: cancer awareness
