Bacon, ham, hamburger and sausage – are these potentially cancer-causing? An international panel of health experts has been working to answer that question, and will deliver its findings on Monday. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) met to discuss red meat and processed meat. The meat industry is preparing for the answer – some say if IARC says red and processed meats are carcinogenic it would lead to a major shift in the industry. Others think it will lead to more consumer-focussed diet recommendations. READ MORE: Study links red meat to breast cancer but not all experts convinced The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) believes, “scientific evidence shows cancer is a complex disease not caused by single foods and that a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle choices are essential to good health,” said Barry Carpenter, NAMI President and CEO. Story continues below advertisement NAMI responded to a media report in Britain’s Daily Mail that stated IARC will give processed meat the highest carcinogenic risk rating and red meat the second-highest one. “Red and processed meat are among 940 substances reviewed by IARC found to pose some level of theoretical ‘hazard.’ Only one substance, a chemical in yoga pants, has been declared by IARC not to cause cancer,” said Carpenter. IARC called the leaked reports “random” and stated “there was NO breach of embargo, as no embargoed material was shared with any news outlet, in Britain or elsewhere.” The public debate shows how heated IARC’s evaluation is and decision will be. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, “research shows that a diet high in red meat and eating processed meat increases the risk of colorectal cancer. The reasons why red and processed meat increase the risk of colorectal cancer are currently being studied. The cancer society also recommends Canadians limit their red and processed meat intake. IARC’s review will be released Monday in Paris. Canadian Cancer Society’s advice to reduce risk: Story continues below advertisement
The consumer industry is bracing itself for a potentially damaging report to be released today by the World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), that will highlight the potential cancer risks linked to red and processed meat. Tensions have risen between the meat industry and IARC after it was reported over the weekend that it is intending to give processed meat the highest and red meat the second-highest carcinogenic risk rating.