What Are Carcinogens? Why Eating Too Much Processed Meat is Bad for You

Is the slice of bacon on your BLT really as dangerous as smoking a cigarette? That was the implication of some of the scary headlines based on the World Health Organization’s recent report stating that processed meat is a carcinogen that raises the risk of colon, stomach, and other cancers. An expert panel of 22 scientists from the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer further concluded that red meat probably also contributes to colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancer risk. But what are carcinogens?

According to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org), cancer is caused by changes in a cell’s DNA—its genetic “blueprint.” Some of these changes may be caused by exposure to environmental factors. Factors that may contribute to changes in DNA include:

• Lifestyle factors (nutrition, tobacco use, alcohol use, physical activity)
• Naturally occurring exposures (ultraviolet light, radon gas, infectious agents such as viruses)
• Medical treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy, and immune-suppressing drugs
• Workplace exposures to chemicals and toxins such as asbestos
• Household exposures to pesticides, mold, dust, and other potentially toxic substances
• Pollution

Substances and exposures that can lead to cancer are called carcinogens. According to the society, “Substances labeled as carcinogens may have different levels of cancer-causing potential. Some may cause cancer only after prolonged, high levels of exposure. And, for any particular person, the risk of developing cancer depends on many factors, including how they are exposed to a carcinogen, the length and intensity of the exposure, and the person’s genetic makeup.”

What About Carcinogens in Meat?

The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) listing of processed meat such as bacon and cold cuts as a “Group 1” carcinogen—the same group that contains smoking and asbestos—doesn’t mean it’s equally dangerous as a carcinogen. Rather, the designation reflects the strength of the evidence linking processed meats to cancer risk.

The connection between meats and cancer risk should come as no surprise. Joel B. Mason, MD, director of Tufts’ HNRCA Vitamins and Carcinogenesis Laboratory, comments, “The only change that occurred from my perspective is that the WHO finally codified the previously known link between cancer and red/processed meat into a report.”

The WHO experts evaluated more than 800 studies from the past 20 years. The findings, Dr. Mason says, support longstanding dietary advice to limit intake of processed meat, control portion sizes, and frequently substitute seafood, poultry, or plant protein for red meat when planning meals.

About “Processed”

What counts as “processed meat”? Bacon, sausages, hot dogs, jerky, and cold cuts are examples of “processed meat,” which is defined as any meat that has been transformed to enhance flavor or improve preservation by salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes. Scientists believe that chemicals added to meat in processing, such as nitrates and nitrites, may be responsible for the increased cancer risk, but a cause-and-effect relationship has not been conclusively established.

How much is too much? The WHO report said there aren’t enough data to define how much processed meat is dangerous, but the data do show that risk increases with consumption. An analysis of 10 studies indicated that eating about 1.75 ounces of processed meat daily was associated with an added lifetime risk of colorectal cancer of roughly 18 percent. That’s about the equivalent of one hot dog or a couple of slices of cold cuts or bacon.

For red meat, each 3.5-ounce daily serving probably increases colorectal cancer risk by a similar amount—about 17 percent. Most Americans eat much larger portions of red meat, however; a 3.5-ounce serving is a little bigger than a deck of cards or a bar of soap.

About Your Risk

Although it’s smart to ask the question, “What are carcinogens?” and avoid increasing your risk when you find out the answer, you shouldn’t panic over the risk associated with processed and red meat. For the average American, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 5 percent; an 18 percent increase in that risk would raise the lifetime risk to around 6 percent. An occasional hot dog or BLT or eating a right-sized portion of red meat once or twice a week would translate to an even smaller total risk.

How can you reduce your risk? Since it’s not clear what kinds of “processing” cause processed meats to be more carcinogenic, simply choosing nitrate-free meats may not reduce your risk. The American Institute for Cancer Research (www.aicr.org) does offer some ideas for cutting processed-meat consumption:

• Replacing packaged deli meats with freshly cooked chicken or fish
• Trying spicy vegetarian sausages instead of bacon, chorizo, or salami
• Replacing sausage in chili and sauces with legumes such as kidney beans, chickpeas, and lentils
• Using herbs and spices such as garlic, fennel seed, and hot pepper flakes to add flavor in place of processed meats.

When it comes to red meat, Christopher Wild, PhD, director of the WHO’s cancer-research agency, says, “These findings further support current public health recommendations to limit intake of meat. At the same time, red meat has nutritional value.” Grilling, pan-frying and other high-temperature methods of cooking may produce higher amounts of carcinogens, the WHO noted, so choosing lower-temperature methods such as roasting or braising may reduce your risk.

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