Experts from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer have discovered processed meats and red meats may lead to bowel cancer.
Following this discovery, the IARC classified processed meats — such as those found in hot dogs and ham — among its group 1 carcinogenic products. Other carcinogens found in this group are tobacco, asbestos and diesel fumes, according to Reuters Health.
Red meat — including beef, lamb and pork — were categorized in the IARC's group 2A of carcinogens, which includes one of the active ingredients in many herbicides, according to the report.
Group 1 and group 2A represent the WHO's two highest cancer classifications. The classifications represent the strength of the evidence that links the products to cancer, not the actual strength of the carcinogen itself.
Still, the discovery is concerning, according to David Wallinga, MD, the senior health officer for San Francisco, who penned a blog post for the Natural Resources Defense Council regarding the WHO report and the organization's recommendation to eat less processed and red meat.
"How red meat is produced is a major health issue, for the animals of course, but also for people," wrote Dr. Wallinga. "Recent announcements by meat and restaurant companies…underscore what the CDC, NRDC and others have long maintained — giving human antibiotics routinely to healthy animals has helped create a superbug problem. And that's a problem we can no longer ignore, or tolerate."
More articles on population health:
Infographic: UF illustrates the demographics of disease in the US
Prevalence of marijuana use and disorders skyrocket in recent years
ProMedica, AARP collaborate to tackle hunger as a public health issue