World Health Organization Releases Study That Suggests Processed Meat and Red Meat Can Cause Cancer, Reported to Increase Risk By 18 Percent

A new research from the World Health Organization now identifies processed meat and unprocessed red meat can cause cancer  as they are carcinogenic to humans.

The WHO panel, which is composed of 22 international experts that compiled decades of researcher linking meat consumption to cancer, suggests that eating an additional 3.5 ounces of red meat a day increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 17 percent. Eating an additional 1.8 ounces (50 grams) of meat daily will increase risk by 18 percent, the Washington Post Monday.

50 grams would be equivalent to one hotdog or two slices of ham.

"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," said Kurt Straif, an official from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer

The WHO defines processed meat as those that have been salted, smoked or cured to preserve it or enhance it flavors, CNN notes Monday.

Basically, bacon, ham, hotdog and other processed meat is said to cause cancer.

Reuters reports Monday the organization's findings were mainly linked to colorectal cancer, they also found links between meat consumption and pancreatic and prostate cancer.

The study found inconclusive evidence to prove a link between processed meat and stomach cancer.

The WHO said that the findings are vital to public health, but emphasized that red meat still has nutritional value.

"These results are important in enabling governments and international regulatory agencies to conduct risk assessments, in order to balance the risks and benefits of eating red meat and processed meat and to provide the best possible dietary recommendations," WHO cancer agency head Christopher Wild told CNN.

The study, however, gained criticism from the meat industry. The North American Meat Institute described the WHO report as a "dramatic and alarmist overreach."

National Cattlemen's Beef Association director Shalene McNeill also said that a balanced diet-which includes meat-will improve a person's health.