The guardian

Sarah Boseley health editor

October 26, 2015
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/26/bacon-ham-sausages-processed-meats-cancer-risk-
smoking-says-who

PROCESSED MEAT RANK ALONGSIDE SMOKING AS CANCER CAUSES-WHO

According to Boseley (2015). Bacon, ham and sausages are consider as carcinogenic food. In UN
health body, they stated that processed meat (ham, bacon and sausages) is indicated as most
carcinogenic substances like cigarettes, alcohol, asbestos and arsenic. As stated by Kurt Straif head of the
IARC monographs programme, it is based on strong evidences that the consumption of processed meat
is carcinogenic for human. When a person eats processed meat he might have colorectal cancer and
based on another association it also might cause stomach cancer. Also, based on evaluation of another
association on their epidemiological study that red meat is also positive as cancerous for human but
unlike the processed meat it didnt have that strong evidences.

In a day, a when a person consume 50g (1.8 ounce) of processed meat it increases the risk of having
cancer about 20% which concluded by IARcs experts. 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, and In view of the large number of people who consume processed meat,
the global impact on cancer incidence is of public health importance. said by Dr Kurt Straif. Processed
meat is a cancer hazard based on the World Cancer Research Fund and they are advising people about
that for them to be aware. Consumption 500g per week of products such as bacon, ham, salami, beef,
pork and lamb is not advisable. Cancer Research UK supports IARCs decision that theres strong enough
evidence to classify processed meat as a cause of cancer, and red meat as a probable cause of cancer.
and Weve known for some time about the probable link between red and processed meat and bowel
cancer, which is backed by substantial evidence. said Prof Tim Key, Cancer Research UKs epidemiologist
at the University of Oxford. This decision doesnt mean you need to stop eating any red and processed
meat. But if you eat lots of it you may want to think about cutting down. You could try having fish for
your dinner rather than sausages, or choosing to have a bean salad for lunch over a BLT. The IARC

statement considerably strengthens the line against processed meat. Some nutritionists maintain that
the extra risk is relatively small and that meat has other benefits but while cancer scientists are
concerned about the risks of eating too much meat. Red meat was linked to about three extra cases of
bowel cancer per 100,000 adults in developed countries. stated by Dr Elizabeth Lund, independent
consultant in nutritional and gastrointestinal health, and a former research leader at the Institute of
Food Research. She also said. Overall, I feel that eating meat once a day combined with plenty of fruit,
vegetables and cereal fibre, plus exercise and weight control, will allow for a low risk of colorectal cancer
and a more balanced diet.

American Cancer Society

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/general-info/known-and-probable-human-
carcinogens.html

Known and Probable Human Carcinogens

According to American Cancer Society (2017). Their role is to educate people about cancer and
its causes. Exposure of substances in the environment can cause cancer that makes many people worry.
As part of the role of American Cancer Society they provide documents that have been known or
suspected as cancerous for human. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the US
National Toxicology Program (NTP) listed some related information how groups and agencies test
possible carcinogens. Changes in cell DNA genetic blueprint can cause cancer that might inherit from
parents. Outside exposure is also one of the factor. Often referred as Environmental factors such as 1)
Lifestyle factors 2) Naturally occurring exposures 3) Medical treatments 4) Workplace exposures 5)
Household exposures 6) Pollution. Carcinogens are called the substances and exposure that can lead to
cancer. It can lead to cancer in other ways but not affect the DNA directly. At all time, carcinogens do not
cause cancer in every case. Substances have different levels of cancer-causing potential. Some cases of
cancer might occur when prolonged in high level of exposure. The risk of developing cancer depends on
many factors such as person's genetic makeup, exposed to a carcinogen, and the length and intensity of
the exposure. In determining the cancer-causing potential of different substances, several national and
international agencies are responsible for that. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is
part of the World Health Organization (WHO). The IARC has evaluated the cancer-causing potential of
more than 900 likely candidates in the past 30 years. They place them in groups: 1-Carcinogenic to
humans, 2A-Probably carcinogenic to humans, 2B-Possibly carcinogenic to humans, 3-Unclassifiable as to

carcinogenicity in humans, and 4-Probably not carcinogenic to humans . The Integrated Risk Information
System (IRIS) is maintained by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They is rating system
describing the cancer-causing potential of a substance. Group A: Carcinogenic to humans, Group B: Likely
to be carcinogenic to humans, Group C: Suggestive evidence of carcinogenic potential, Group D:
Inadequate information to assess carcinogenic potential and Group E: Not likely to be carcinogenic to
humans. The other agencies and groups such as CDCs National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They
may have the may comment on what levels of exposure to a particular substance might be considered
and whether a substance or exposure may cause cancer. The American Cancer Society (ACS) Role
evaluating how environmental factors affect a person's likelihood of developing cancer and contributes
in many ways includes: 1) Conducting epidemiologic research on the causes of cancer, 2) Funding
laboratory and epidemiologic research at universities and other institutions that study environmental
causes of cancer, 3) Advocating for environmental health on local, state, and federal levels, and 4)
Informing the public about environmental factors that affect cancer risk and how to decrease their risk of
developing cancer. The ACS looks to national and international organizations such as the NTP and IARC is
based on evidence from laboratory and human research studies and mission is to evaluate
environmental cancer risks but in most cases they does not directly evaluate whether a certain
substance or exposure causes cancer. One of the most priority of a person have to be his/her health.
There are some agencies groups that may educate people in some health issues specifically about
carcinogens/cancer. How can someone know the suspected substances or factor that expose to people
that may cause cancer. There are also some documented that gives people knowledge that provides be
the groups and agencies in prevention of cancer.

NCBI Resources- PMC article

Cancer Invest. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2009 Nov 25.
Published in final edited form as:
Cancer Invest. 2007 AprMay; 25(3): 189196.
doi: 10.1080/07357900701208733
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2782753/

Carcinogenic Food Contaminants

Christian C. Abnet

According to Abnet (2009). Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and diet is thought to
play a substantial role in cancer etiology. In epidemiologic studies the effects of different foods, food
components, and food contaminants have been widely studied in the laboratory. Several governmental
and international agencies studied and formal risk assessments about the importance of food
contaminants in the link between diet and cancer. There are two components in Risk assessments for
human hazards. The first one is a particular exposure can have adverse consequences to determine a
hazard. Second one, the range of exposures puts an individual or population at risk of adverse
consequences to determine an exposure. A carcinogenic can be a particular exposure but will be minimal
that it is of little concern to the general population. It can be based in animal studies, the hazard
assessment. The Monographs represent the first step in carcinogenic risk assessment, which involves
examination of all relevant information in order to assess the strength of the available evidence that
certain exposures could alter the incidence of cancer in humans. The second step is quantitative risk
estimation. Detailed, quantitative evaluations of epidemiological data may be made in the Monographs,
but without extrapolation beyond the range of the data available. Quantitative extrapolation from
experimental data to the human situation is not undertaken. stated by the International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC) on their IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to
Humans. There are four types of compounds that potentially carcinogens in human. First, the natural
products and are unavoidable (e.g. salted fish). Second, natural products that might be avoided (e.g.
contaminated grain with the carcinogenic fungal metabolite aflatoxin). Third, anthropogenic chemicals,
there some chemicals that might contaminate the environment and accumulate in foodstuffs. Fourth,
anthropogenic chemicals intentionally added to foods (e.g. saccharin or food coloring) they are added
intentionally thats why this is not addressed. Numerous and several food contaminants exist that has
been confirmed as carcinogenic. For example, the major cause of liver cancer is aflatoxin especially in
lower resource countries- where commonly infected by Hepatitis B. Once recognized the reduction of
exposure, it can be started through government guideline, food producer initiatives, and by individuals.
It is important to know the carcinogenic food contaminants, to prevent people to have cancer or any
other diseases and for people to be aware of the compounds that can be/potentially carcinogenic foods.

Stacy Simon-Senior Editor, News

IARC published its report online October 26, 2015 in The Lancet Oncology.
Oct 26, 2015
American Cancer Society

https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/world-health-organization-says-processed-meat-causes-cancer.html
World Health Organization Says Processed Meat Causes Cancer

According to Simon (2015). Processed meat is classified as a carcinogen- which means something
cancerous for human and red meat is classified as a probable carcinogen- which means probably
cancerous, it is stated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Processed meat is
refers to the meat being processed/treated in way that it preserved or flavored. The process includes
salting, curing, fermenting, and smoking. While the red meat is the typically meat which we can get in
the cow, pork. Lamb, and goat. Eight hundred studies has been done to reach the conclusions of 22
experts from 10 countries. The consumption of 50g per day will increase the risk of colorectal cancer
about 18% is equivalent to 1 hotdog or 4 bacons. Colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancer are the
probable diseases you can get in eating red meat. The risk of developing colon cancer is 5%. To put the
numbers into all together the study would raise average lifetime risk to almost 6%, increased risk from
eating the amount of processed meat. "We should be limiting red and processed meat to help reduce
colon cancer risk, and possibly, the risk of other cancers. The occasional hot dog or hamburger is okay."
said Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, American Cancer Society managing director of nutrition and physical activity.
Limiting the processed meat and meat and high in consuming of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains is
recommended by The American Cancer Society. Also they recommend together with the Physical
Activity for Cancer Prevention that choosing fish, poultry, or beans instead of red meat and processed
meat. Getting healthy, having a regular physical activity, limiting alcohol and avoiding cigarettes can help
people in getting diseases and lower the development of cancer. People have known the pros and also
have to know the consequences of what they are doing or what food they are eating and how it affect
their body.

Food Chem Toxicol. 2017 Jul;105:256-261. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.04.028. Epub 2017 Apr 24.

Carcinogenicity of consumption of red meat and

processed meat: A review of scientific news since the
IARC decision.
Domingo JL1, Nadal M2.
Copyright 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
 The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) releases a results of the evaluation of
the carcinogenicity of red and processed meat in October 2015. The consumption of red meat was
classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans" and processed meat as "carcinogenic to humans" that is
based on the accumulated scientific literature. That aimed to revise the current state of carcinogenicity
of red and processed meat after the IARC decision. The IARC decision have been published during these
months and the new epidemiological studies and new reviews is clearly supporting it. Other cancers
arising from red and processed meat consumption and it is basic to launch the mechanisms leading to
the increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). The role of known/suspected carcinogens contained in
uncooked or unprocessed meats, as well as the influence of cooking is another important pending issue.
Lastly, the consumption of white meat, such as pork and/or poultry, are -positively or inversely-
associated with an increased risk of CRC and other types of cancer thats why it is highly recommended
to conduct new epidemiological studies to have further explanation. There are some issues about the
IARC studies that some people agree and some of them are not. There was some unclear issue about the
content of the study thats the reason why they recommends to conduct another/new study to further
the knowledge or to further educate the people about the difference Carcinogenicity of consumption of
red meat and processed meat.

https://www.cancer.org/healthy/eat-healthy-get-active/acs-guidelines-nutrition-physical-activity-cancer-
prevention.html

ACS Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention

According to American Cancer Society. The change in bogy weight, diet , and physical activity
is the most important risk factor for Americans not the use of tobacco.