We are quickly approaching baseball, grilling, and picnic season. This means that the consumption of hamburgers, hot dogs, bacon, and deli meat will increase substantially. However, you may want to think twice before throwing another brat on the barbie.
In 2015, twenty-two scientists from 10 countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to evaluate the carcinogenicity of red meat and processed meats.
For the purpose of this article, red meat refers to beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton (older lambs), horse, or goat meat. Processed meats refer to meat that has been transformed by salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavor. Think bacon, sausage, hot dogs, deli meat, etc.
The Working Group assessed more than 800 epidemiological studies that investigated the association of cancer with consumption of red meat and processed meat in many countries from various continents.
Their findings?
Overall, the Working Group classified consumption of processed meat as “carcinogenic to humans” (Group 1) on the basis of sufficient evidence for colorectal cancer. Additionally, a positive association with the consumption of processed meat was found for stomach cancer.
The Working Group classified consumption of red meat as “probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A).
In making this evaluation, the Working Group took into consideration all the relevant data, including the 11 substantial epidemiological data showing a positive association between consumption of red meat and colorectal cancer and the strong mechanistic evidence. Consumption of red meat was also positively associated with pancreatic and with prostate cancer.
So…..
If you are going to continue to eat red meat and processed meats and/or feed them to your children, please consider choosing safer options such as nitrate/nitrite free processed meats and those that contain no preservatives. I have provided some healthier options in the comment section.
Source: http://www.thelancet.com/…/PIIS1470-2045(15)00444-1.pdf…
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