Red and Processed Meats Pose Same Cancer Risk as Asbestos

According to reports, the World Health Organisation is set to issue new guidelines warning of the cancer risk of red and processed meats.

The World Health Organisation, which is a specialist agency of the United Nations concerned with international public health, is expected to issue new guidelines on the carcinogenicity of red and processed meats and may be adding bacon, burgers, ham and sausages to its list of cancer-causing substances, alongside tobacco smoke and asbestos.

Dr Jill Jenkins, a GP and member of the Meat Advisory Panel, said:

"I think certainly that we should be keeping a low level, so everything in moderation.

"From the same body we have had advice about the carcinogenic effects of the air we breathe and the sun on our skin, so I think we have to take it within reason in that if you are stuffing in burgers and sausages and bacon every day, yes you are at risk.

"If you have some healthy, locally made high-protein sausage once a fortnight, well, I personally don't consider that a risk."

According to the latest survey of the British diet, the average adult consumes approximately 71 grams of red meat a day.

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