The WHO Report issued by the WHO in October classified processed meat as a carcinogen and linked red meat as a probable cause of cancer. Learn about the report and reaction to the report here.

1. Hope4Cancer Reviews the
WHO Cancer Report about
Processed and Red Meat

2. What Should You
Know about the
Report?
The WHO Report was compiled by
the International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC), an expert
panel of scientists that is a division of
the WHO.
22 experts from 10 countries
commissioned by the IARC looked
at 800 studies on cancer in humans.

3. What Were Their Findings?
They placed processed meat into its Group 1 category, citing
sufficient evidence that it could potentially cause cancer.
The experts concluded that limited research suggested red meat
"probably" caused cancer as well.

4. What Is Processed Meat? What Is Red
Meat?
Processed meat is meat that has been transformed in some
way through fermentation, salting, curing, or smoking. These
could include deli meats, hot dogs, sausage, etc.
Red meat is mammalian muscle meat like beef or pork.

5. The Results by the Numbers
According to the report, a "50 gram portion of processed meat
eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18
percent."
The rate of colon cancer is increased by a factor of about 1.1 or
1.2 for every serving of processed meat consumed per day.
To put this in perspective, smoking can increase the risk of lung
cancer 20-fold.

6. What Should the Medical Community
and Consumers Take from This?
As colon cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer among men
and women in the U.S., these numbers should encourage
doctors to recommend eating less processed and red meats to
their patients.
The Hope4Cancer® Institute reviews nutritional studies all of
the time to develop its guidelines for nutrition as part of its
"Seven Cancer Treatment Principles." It stresses eating a diet
consisting of Full Spectrum Nutrition, which includes fresh
vegetables and fruits, fish, beans, and alkaline water.