FROM THE DESK OF RANDALL A. KROCKA
SMOHIT Administrator
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Processed Meats as Bad as Smoking

While we all enjoy a hearty breakfast, it's time to cut back on the bacon, ham and sausage according to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The report ranks cured and processed meats alongside cigarettes as a major cause of cancer, placing them in the same category as asbestos, alcohol, arsenic and tobacco.

The report from the WHO's cancer arm, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), said there is enough evidence to rank processed meats group 1 carcinogens, because of a causal link with bowel cancer.

It places red meat in group 2A, as "probably carcinogenic to humans". Eating red meat is also linked to pancreatic and prostate cancer, the IARC says.

The IARC's experts concluded that each 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increased the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%.

"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 IARC monographs program. "In view of the large number of people who consume processed meat, the global impact on cancer incidence is of public health importance."

While this is not entirely new information, it's the first time the World Health Organization has weighed in on the topic with its own research. While the organization doesn't suggest eliminating processed and cured meats entirely, it advises eating products such as ham, bacon and salami as little as possible and having no more than 500g a week of red meat, including beef, pork and lamb.
As usual, common sense and good judgment are your best defense.