Did You Know That Processed Meat Such as Bacon and Ham Causes Cancer?

By Lynnet Okumu / Published August 5, 2022 | 10:58 am

KEY POINTS

World Health Organizations reports indicate that consumption of red meat such as beef, lamb, and pork, is carcinogenic to humans, and thus, suggests that an optimally healthy diet would be low in red meat.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), processed meats including ham and bacon are a Group 1 carcinogen, known to cause cancer. This means that there’s compelling evidence that processed meats cause cancer.

Processed meat means any meat that has been preserved or changed. This could be by smoking, curing, salting, canning, or adding preservatives. Processed meat also includes salami, Frankfurt, and sausages. It also includes processed white meat such as chicken nuggets and sliced lunch meats.

Eating such meat increases your risk of bowel and stomach cancer.

While it is true that red meat has nutritional value – it is rich in protein, minerals, and vitamins (e.g., vitamin B12), studies have also shown that high consumption of red meat can increase the risk of colorectal cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.

How red and processed meat increase cancer risk

WHO research shows that there are certain chemicals in red and processed meats – both added and naturally occurring – that cause these foods to be carcinogenic.

These chemicals include:

Haem

This is naturally found in red meat and processed red meat. It can damage cells, and cause bacteria in the body to produce harmful chemicals. This can increase the risk of cancer.

Nitrates and nitrites

These are used to keep processed meat fresher for longer. When you eat them, nitrites can become cancer-causing chemicals (N-nitroso compounds or NOCs). These chemicals may be the reason processed meat increases the risk of cancer more than fresh red meat.

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic amines (PCAs)

These chemicals are produced when meat is cooked at elevated temperatures, which includes grilling or barbequing. They can damage cells in the bowel.