WHO is alarming: processed meat causes – Dietetics – Articles |

What is red and processed meat?

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Let’s start with the basics. Red meat is the muscle tissue and internal organs of various types of meat: beef, pork, veal, lamb and mutton, as well as the meat of goats and horses.

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Processed meat, on the other hand, is meat that has been transformed by salting, smoking, fermenting, hardening, or other processes designed to improve its taste or extend its shelf life. Examples of processed meat are sausages, sausages, cold cuts, canned meat and processed meat. Processed meat usually contains pork or beef, but may also contain other types of meat, e.g. poultry, offal, etc.

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What was the assessment like?

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The IARC has analyzed over 800 studies on the association of cancer with the consumption of these meats. Some studies have looked at both types of meat. Overall, over 700 epidemiological studies on red meat and over 400 studies on processed meat were analyzed. 22 experts from 10 countries were involved in the evaluation. So the results are very reliable.

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Conclusions from the analyzes – the meat is really dangerous

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Processed meat has been found to be carcinogenic. They are classified in Group 1. This category applies when there is sufficient evidence of a carcinogenic effect in humans. The evidence is hard enough to be confident that a certain product or agent causes cancer. 

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Red meat, on the other hand, was classified as group 2A. This means that there is a likelihood of carcinogenicity in humans, but it is not 100% confirmed. So the evidence is limited, but there is a positive link between eating red meat and cancer. However, this evidence is not as strong as in the case of classification into group 1, because other explanations for the link detected cannot be ruled out. So it may turn out that it is not about the consumption of red meat itself. In other words, the evidence from epidemiological studies is limited, but there is strong mechanistic evidence.

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Mechanistic evidence is a causal explanation that deals with systems made up of many parts, manifesting as a whole a disposition (in this case, tumors). The disposition (i.e. cancer) is explained causally as a result of the interaction between the parts of the mechanism, its organization and the processes taking place in it.

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Colorectal cancer and the consumption of red and processed meat have been the subject of most research. A meta-analysis of 10 studies found that consuming 100 g of red meat per day may increase the risk of developing the disease by 17%, and consuming 50 g of processed meat increases the risk by 18%. As meat consumption increases, the risk increases.

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Although colorectal cancers are the most frequently reported cancers associated with the consumption of these meats, there are also studies linking meat consumption to pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer and prostate cancer.

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Controversy: meat as harmful as asbestos and tobacco?

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Many articles that have appeared in the world have compared the harmful effects of consuming processed meat with smoking and asbestos, because these factors also belong to group 1. The WHO says that this does not mean that processed meat is as dangerous as smoking or asbestos. This classification is based not on the severity of harmfulness, but on the strength of scientific evidence that confirms the association of given factors with an increased risk of cancer. In other words, the fact that these factors are listed in this group only means that they are 100% associated with the appearance of cancer.

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Is it necessary to give up meat?

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Following the publication of the WHO report, many people began to wonder whether it would be appropriate to give up processed meat and red meat altogether in this situation. However, this is not necessarily the case. We cannot forget that red meat has many positive health benefits. It includes, among others a lot of wholesome protein and iron. So it is enough to limit them in the diet. Red meat is best eaten 1-2 times a week. However, it would be good to give up processed meat completely, although everything is for people. If we eat ham or sausage from time to time, nothing bad will happen to us. It is also worth mentioning that the impact of eating poultry and fish on the increased risk of disease has not been assessed. So it cannot be 100% assured that poultry and fish are the better choices. Based on current knowledge, however, we can assume that these are good alternatives to red meat, although the amount of fish and poultry cannot be overstated. The most important rule is: everything in moderation.id=»h23″>

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Main photo: Photo credit: jeffreywid = »h23 ″> / Foter.comid =» h23 ″> / CC BYieid = »h23 ″>

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Picture 1: Photo credit: Jellalunaid = »h23 ″> / Foter.comid =» h23 ″> / CC BYid = »h23 ″> id =» h23 ″>

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