Does eating processed meat cause cancer?
By Rhonda Maynard
July 7, 2017
I lost a sister to breast cancer in 2009. My father has a cancer called multiple myeloma. My grandmother had colorectal cancer. My grandfather had kidney cancer. Cancer. It seems everyone knows someone who has or has had cancer.
Since my sister’s death, I have been committed to learning more about what causes cancer. Most of my friends say, “Everything causes cancer,” and it sort of seems that way. We are bombarded with news articles telling us this causes cancer or that causes cancer. But what do we really know? You have heard the old adage, “You are what you eat.” Well, there is increasing evidence that it is true; Foods that we eat affect our bodies. What we put in our bodies can cause cancer, among other diseases. This truth has inspired me to learn all about nutrition and the role nutrition plays in fighting cancer.
A recent Netflix documentary entitled “What the Health” explores many topics related to nutrition and health, but one of the most controversial topics it covers is the link between eating processed meat and cancer. (View “What the Health” trailer below or click here.) The documentary presents some facts as a being “hidden from the public.”
The truth is, news organizations have been speaking about this since the World Health Organization released its report on the topic in October 2015. (View an October 26, 2015 PBS NewHour report below.) So does this documentary present only one side of the issue? I decided to find out for myself.
By doing a simple Google search for “world health organization processed meat cancer,” I found the report released on October 26, 2015. The WHO press release did state, “Processed meat [is] classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer.” [1] With “close partnerships with UN agencies, donors, foundations, academia, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector,” [2] I believe the WHO is a strong source for information.
What prompted the WHO to look at processed meat? Another document from the WHO explains:
An international advisory committee that met in 2014 recommended red meat and processed meat as high priorities for evaluation by the IARC Monographs Programme. This recommendation was based on epidemiological studies suggesting that small increases in the risk of several cancers may be associated with high consumption of red meat or processed meat. Although these risks are small, they could be important for public health because many people worldwide eat meat and meat consumption is increasing in low- and middle-income countries. Although some health agencies already recommend limiting intake of meat, these recommendations are aimed mostly at reducing the risk of other diseases. With this in mind, it was important for IARC to provide authoritative scientific evidence on the cancer risks associated with eating red meat and processed meat. [3]
Next, I looked at other professional organizations, such as the American Institute for Cancer Research and the American Association for Cancer Research to see what they say. Both referred to the WHO finding. See below for some more information from the AICR:
AICR Statement on Red and Processed Meat
AICR Recommendation for Cancer Prevention: Lower Red Meat Consumption
I also searched Ohio State’s library for academic journal articles related to the subject. I found several, two of which I list here:
Molecular Aspects of Medicine: Human risk of diseases associated with red meat intake (pdf)
Because I wanted to see if other periodicals covered the story, I looked for recent news articles. Again, there were several newspapers and online bloggers mentioning the topic, including the following two stories I list below:
The London Economic: Meat consumption a “major public health concern”
Finally, I wanted to know what other experts had to say. A sample is below:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: The Link Between Processed Meat and Cancer: What You Need to Know.
Center for Science in the Public Interest: Cancer Warning Label Urged for Processed Meat & Poultry
Ohio State University Extension: Processed Meats, Red Meats and Colorectal Cancer Risk
Still, I am not a scientist, so I cannot evaluate the studies the WHO used in making its decision to list processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen. Processed meats are a staple in the American diet. For some, it might be difficult to cut-out processed meat altogether. I have heard many people say, “everything in moderation.” But what is “moderation?” I, for one, am going to try living without processed meat, because my life may depend on it.
Sources:
[1] World Health Organization. (2015). IARC Monographs evaluate consumption of red meat and processed meat. Retrieved from https://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2015/pdfs/pr240_E.pdf
[2] World Health Organization. (2016). The Global Guardian of Public Health. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/about/what-we-do/global-guardian-of-public-health.pdf?ua=1
[3] World Health Organization. (2015). Q&A on the carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/features/qa/cancer-red-meat/en/
Interested in learning more about nutrition? Check out these websites:
The Ohio State University | Nutrition and Dietary Services
Harvard’s School of Public Health | The Nutrition Source
MyFitnessPal | Free Calorie Counter
Or watch these interesting videos: