Bacon, hot dogs and other processed meats can increase the risk of colon cancer, according to the World Health Organization.
The world’s leading health agency said the findings help support earlier recommendations for people to lower their intake of meat. The findings didn’t conclude a definitive connection between increased cancer risk and red meat, but did say there is a connection between processed meats and colon cancer.
The WHO’s cancer workgroup looked at up to 800 studies to reach its findings, which were disclosed on Monday.
The agency said each 50 g portion of processed meat consumed by someone each day increases the risk of colon cancer by 18 percent.
“For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but this risk increases with the amount of meat consumed,” said Dr. Kurt Straif, head of the monographs program for the International Agency for Research on Cancer, or IARC, which performed the research.
Other processed meats are corned beef, ham, beef jerky and canned meat.
Regarding red meat, the agency said that it still has nutritional value but should still be consumed less. It classified red meat as possibly carcinogenic to humans, while it called processed meats carcinogenic to humans.
“These results are important in enabling governments and international regulatory agencies to conduct risk assessments, in order to balance the risks and benefits of eating red meat and processed meat and to provide the best possible dietary recommendations,” said Christopher Wild, director of the working group.
The meat industry said in response to the findings that science doesn’t show a link between cancer and red meat.
“While IARC represents a select group of opinions, it doesn’t always represent consensus in the scientific community,” according to the National Cattleman’s Beef Association. It cited several studies that it claims don’t prove a link between the disease and consuming red meat.
But the WHO isn’t the only agency pressing for less meat consumption. Draft dietary guidelines issued by the federal government earlier this year also called for less consumption of red meat and processed meats.
The guidelines, which were heavily criticized by the meat industry, govern choices for the federal school lunch program and are intended to inform Americans about the components of a nutritional diet.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misstated the portion of processed meat the agency said increased cancer risks. The Washington Examiner regrets the error.
