Should you stop eating meat?

Summary

The World Health Organization's expert panel, after reviewing over 800 studies, classified processed meats like bacon, sausages, and hot dogs as carcinogenic, with each 50g daily serving increasing colon cancer risk by 18%. Unprocessed red meat was deemed 'probably carcinogenic.' Despite these findings, the risk is considered small compared to smoking, akin to 1/10th of the cancer risk from cigarettes. Health authorities recommend limiting red meat intake to three servings weekly and avoiding processed meat.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The World Health Organization's expert panel reviewed over 800 studies and classified processed meat as carcinogenic.
• 🍔 Processed meats like bacon, sausages, hot dogs, and deli meats are associated with an increased risk of colon cancer.
• 📈 Consuming 50 grams of processed meat daily can raise the risk of colon cancer by 18%.
• 🚫 Despite being organic, smoked, or cured, the risk associated with processed meat consumption remains.
• 📉 The risk from processed meat is considered small by doctors and is not on par with the risks of smoking.
• 🚬 The cancer risk from processed meat is about 1/10th of that associated with cigarette smoking.
• 🥩 Unprocessed red meat, including beef, veal, pork, lamb, and goat, is listed as 'probably carcinogenic'.
• 🔗 There is evidence of associations between red meat and various types of cancer.
• 🥩 Red meat also has nutritional value and can be part of a balanced diet.
• 🇨🇦 The Canadian Cancer Society recommends limiting red meat intake to three servings per week and avoiding processed meat.

Q & A

What did the World Health Organization's expert panel classify processed meat as?

The World Health Organization's expert panel classified processed meat as carcinogenic after reviewing over 800 studies.

What types of processed meat were mentioned in the script as potentially increasing cancer risk?

The script mentioned bacon, sausages, hot dogs, and sliced meat, including those that are organic, smoked, or cured, as potentially increasing cancer risk.

How much does the risk of colon cancer increase with each 50g serving of processed meat eaten daily?

The risk of colon cancer increases by 18% with each 50g serving of processed meat eaten daily.

What is the comparison made between the risk of processed meat consumption and smoking?

The script compares the risk of processed meat consumption to smoking, stating that it is not equivalent and is about 1/10th of the cancer risk associated with cigarette smoking.

What is the status of unprocessed red meat according to the findings mentioned in the script?

Unprocessed red meat, including beef, veal, pork, lamb, and goat, was listed as probably carcinogenic with associations to various cancers.

Does the script mention any nutritional value of red meat?

Yes, the script acknowledges that red meat does have nutritional value.

What is the opinion of the butcher mentioned in the script regarding the consumption of meat?

The butcher in the script prefers to eat a very small quantity of the best-tasting animal rather than large quantities of the worst-tasting animal.

What recommendations does the Canadian Cancer Society have regarding red meat intake?

The Canadian Cancer Society recommends limiting the intake of red meat to three servings per week and avoiding processed meat as often as possible.

What is the script's stance on the potential impact of these findings on meat sales?

The script suggests that while some may be worried about meat sales, the butcher welcomes the news, implying that the findings might not necessarily lead to a significant drop in sales.

What is the script's overall message regarding the consumption of processed and red meat?

The script's overall message is that while there are risks associated with the consumption of processed and red meat, particularly in relation to cancer, it also acknowledges the nutritional value of red meat and suggests moderation in consumption.

Outlines

00:00

🍔 Processed Meat and Cancer Risks

The World Health Organization has classified processed meat as carcinogenic after reviewing over 800 studies. Processed meats such as bacon, sausages, hot dogs, and deli meats are linked to an increased risk of colon cancer, with each 50g serving daily raising the risk by 18%. Despite being in the same category, unprocessed red meats like beef, pork, lamb, and goat are considered 'probably carcinogenic.' The Canadian Cancer Society recommends limiting red meat intake to three servings per week and avoiding processed meat as much as possible. While doctors acknowledge the small risk associated with red meat consumption, they emphasize that it is not equivalent to smoking in terms of cancer risk.

Keywords

💡Processed Meat

Processed meat refers to any meat that has been altered from its natural state through methods such as smoking, curing, or the addition of preservatives. In the context of the video, this includes items like bacon, sausages, hot dogs, and deli meats. The World Health Organization's classification of processed meat as carcinogenic is a significant theme, as it implies that consumption of these products may increase the risk of colon cancer.

💡Carcinogenic

Carcinogenic substances are those that can cause cancer. The video script discusses how an expert panel under the World Health Organization classified processed meat as carcinogenic after reviewing over 800 studies. This term is central to the video's message, as it highlights the potential health risks associated with consuming certain types of meat.

💡Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the colon, which is part of the large intestine. The video emphasizes the link between processed meat consumption and an increased risk of colon cancer, with each 50-gram serving potentially raising the risk by 18%. This keyword is crucial for understanding the health concerns presented in the video.

💡Risk

Risk, in this context, refers to the probability of an adverse effect or outcome, such as developing cancer. The video discusses the increased risk associated with the consumption of processed meat, providing a specific percentage (18%) for the daily intake of 50 grams. Understanding this keyword is essential for grasping the potential health implications of dietary choices.

💡Unprocessed Red Meat

Unprocessed red meat includes meats such as beef, veal, pork, lamb, and goat that have not undergone any preservation processes like smoking or curing. The video mentions that these meats were listed as 'probably carcinogenic,' indicating a lesser degree of certainty compared to processed meat but still suggesting a potential health risk.

💡Nutritional Value

Nutritional value pertains to the nutrients provided by food that contribute to health and well-being. The video acknowledges that red meat, despite its potential risks, has nutritional value, which is an important consideration for consumers who are making dietary choices.

💡Meat Sales

Meat sales refer to the commercial transactions involving the purchase and sale of meat products. The video briefly touches on the potential impact of health recommendations on meat sales, suggesting that consumer habits might change in response to new information about the risks associated with certain types of meat.

💡Canadian Answer Society

The Canadian Answer Society is mentioned in the video as an organization that provides recommendations on dietary intake. They suggest limiting red meat intake to three servings per week and avoiding processed meat as often as possible, which reflects a broader trend of health organizations advising caution in meat consumption.

💡Intake

Intake, in the context of the video, refers to the consumption of specific foods, particularly meat. The Canadian Answer Society's recommendations on limiting red meat intake are an example of how intake is managed to mitigate health risks.

💡Butcher

A butcher is a person who sells and prepares meat for sale, often cutting and trimming it according to customer needs. The video includes a butcher's perspective, who expresses a preference for consuming smaller quantities of higher-quality meat, which adds a personal and industry viewpoint to the discussion on meat consumption.

💡CBC News

CBC News is the news organization reporting on this story, as indicated by the reporter's sign-off. The mention of CBC News situates the video within a broader context of media coverage on health and dietary issues.

Highlights

Processed meat is classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization.

Consumption of processed meat like bacon, sausages, and hot dogs is linked to colon cancer.

Each 50g serving of processed meat daily increases colon cancer risk by 18%.

The risk associated with processed meat is small compared to smoking.

Unprocessed red meat, including beef, veal, pork, lamb, and goat, is probably carcinogenic.

Red meat has nutritional value despite its potential health risks.

The Canadian answer society recommends limiting red meat intake to three servings per week.

Processed meat should be avoided as often as possible, according to health recommendations.

Doctors insist that the risk from red meat is not equivalent to smoking.

The risk of cancer from red meat is about 1/10th of that associated with cigarette smoking.

Processed meat includes organic, smoked, or cured varieties.

The World Health Organization's expert panel reviewed over 800 studies to classify processed meat.

The butcher in the interview prefers quality over quantity when it comes to meat consumption.

The news about red and processed meat does not significantly worry meat sales.

There is an emphasis on the nutritional benefits of red meat despite the cancer risk.

The study findings are meant to guide dietary recommendations rather than cause alarm.

The Canadian answer society's advice aligns with global health recommendations on meat consumption.

Transcripts

when it comes to meat especially

grilling favorites and lunchbox Staples

people get anxious and doctors don't

have the full picture we don't know

exactly what it is about processed meat

that um that leads to this risk an

expert panel under the World Health

Organization looked at more than 800

studies and classified processed meat as

carcinogenic evidence shows eating

things like bacon sausages hot dogs

sliced meat even if it's organic smoked

or cured can cause colon cancer

researchers say each 50 g serving eaten

daily increases your risk by 18% that's

roughly five to six slices of deli

meat despite being in the same category

doctors insist the risk is small and

it's not equivalent to smoking in

relative terms that's about 110th of the

cancer risk associated with cigarette

smoking

there were also findings on unprocessed

red meat including beef ve pork lamb and

goat was listed as probably carcinogenic

evidence shows associations to various

cancers at the same time researchers say

red meat does have nutritional value in

a lot of ways you know it makes me happy

while some may be worried about meat

sales this butcher welcomes the news I

would rather eat a very small quantity

of the best tasting animal then eat

large quantities of the worst tasting

animal the Canadian answer society says

this confirms its recommendations of

limiting your intake of red meat to

three servings per week and avoiding

processed meet as often as you can

Christine Bex CBC News Toronto