WHO Report on Processed Meat and Cancer Draws Rejection From Industry

27 Oct 2015 --- Processed meats – such as bacon, sausages and ham – do cause cancer, according to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), evaluated the carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat.

After thoroughly reviewing the accumulated scientific literature, a Working Group of 22 experts from 10 countries convened by the IARC Monographs Programme classified the consumption of red meat as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A), based on limited evidence that the consumption of red meat causes cancer in humans and strong mechanistic evidence supporting a carcinogenic effect.

This association was observed mainly for colorectal cancer, but associations were also seen for pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.

Processed meat was classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer.

The consumption of meat varies greatly between countries, with from a few percent up to 100% of people eating red meat, depending on the country, and somewhat lower proportions eating processed meat.

The experts concluded that each 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%.

“For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but this risk increases with the amount of meat consumed,” says Dr Kurt Straif, Head of the IARC Monographs Programme. “In view of the large number of people who consume processed meat, the global impact on cancer incidence is of public health importance.”

The IARC Working Group considered more than 800 studies that investigated associations of more than a dozen types of cancer with the consumption of red meat or processed meat in many countries and populations with diverse diets. The most influential evidence came from large prospective cohort studies conducted over the past 20 years.

”These findings further support current public health recommendations to limit intake of meat,” says Dr Christopher Wild, Director of IARC. “At the same time, red meat has nutritional value. Therefore, 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.”

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) issued the following statement in response to a findings: “There is simply insufficient scientific evidence to support the IARC’s finding that links the consumption of processed or red meat to cancer. Cancer is a complex disease and there are many factors that can contribute to its development, however there is broad consensus within the scientific community that no single food causes cancer.”

“The findings by the IARC on meat and cancer must also be called into question given that the panel was directed not to consider any of the off-setting nutritional benefits meat provides and the panel also neglected to include in its review evidence from important research such as the Women’s Health Initiative and the Polyp Prevention Trial which does not support a causal link between meat consumption and cancer.”