More Evidence Processed Meat Causes Cancer: 10 Companies Reeling From The News

• The WHO has found more evidence linking processed meat consumption with cancer.
• The latest study shows that people who consume 50g of processed meats per day have an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
• Several other past studies have also found links between processed meats and cancer.

Yet another study, this one by the World Health Organization, has linked the consumption of processed meats to cancer. Processed meat is meat, such as bacon, sausage or ham, that has been chemically altered to increase its shelf life or modify its taste.

The Details

In a new report, WHO states that consumption of 50g of processed meats per day can increase the chance of developing colorectal cancer by 18 percent. That amount of processed meat is equivalent to less than two slices of bacon per day.

Related Link: Tyson Foods Downgraded, Removed From JP Morgan Focus List

“For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal (bowel) cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but this risk increases with the amount of meat consumed,” WHO representative Dr. Kurt Straif explained.

Other Evidence

The WHO report is not the first time meat consumption has been linked to cancer. More than 20 years ago, a 1994 study at the University of Southern California School of Medicine found a significant association between hot dog consumption and leukemia.

A 2009 study published in BMC Cancer found that Taiwanese children and teenagers who ate cured meats and fish more than once a week has a 74 percent higher chance of developing leukemia than those who rarely ate processed meats.

Potential Backlash

The latest evidence from the WHO could cause potential backlash for meat processors. According to MEAT+POULTRY’s annual report, the following companies are the 10 largest meat processors:

1. Tyson Foods, Inc. TSN
2. JBS USA
3. Cargill Meat Solutions
4. Smithfield Foods, Inc.
5. SYSCO Corporation SYY
6. Hormel Foods Corp HRL
7. ConAgra Foods In c CAG
8. National Beef Packing Co., LLC
9. OSI Group, LLC
10. Perdue Inc

Disclosure: the author holds no position in the stocks mentioned.