The World Health Organisation is reportedly planning to declare that bacon, sausages and other processed meat cause cancer.
Red meat is also expected to be listed as being “probably carcinogenic to humans”.
A source told The Daily Mail that the announcements were expected to be made on Monday with processed meat put in the same category as cigarettes, alcohol and asbestos.
The NHS Choices website says that “evidence shows that there is probably a link between eating red and processed meat and the risk of bowel cancer”.
“People who eat a lot of these meats are at higher risk of bowel cancer than those who eat small amounts,” it adds.
I – Word Understanding
carcinogenic – can cause cancer
asbestos – a mineral that does not burn and was especially used as a building material in the past
II – Have Your Say
1. Processed meat and poultry products like bacon, hot dogs, sausage, ham and other deli meats are great American traditions and iconic foods. Processed meat and poultry products are commonly called “convenience meats” because they have already been prepared for easy and safe consumption by consumers. What’s your favorite processed meat?
2. After lung cancer, bowel cancer is the biggest cancer killer in most parts of the world. (Traditionally,) Japan has had the lowest incidence of bowel cancer in the world. This was probably due to their low fat and high fibre diet. But in recent years, since a Western diet has been introduced into Japan, bowel cancer amongst the Japanese has risen.)
372 Bacon and other processed meats cause cancer, claims WHO report
