Press Statement: Processed meats and cancer link

Avoiding or limiting dietary intake of intake of processed can help to reduce the risk of certain cancers, the Irish Cancer Society said on Monday.

The Society was responding to a report by the World Health Organisation, which has classified processed meats as carcinogenic.

There is strong scientific evidence, the Society said, to support avoiding or limiting the consumption of processed meat, which has been linked to colorectal cancer.

The Society said a diet high in red and processed meat is linked to bowel cancer and recommends avoiding processed meats and reducing the consumption of cooked red meat to 500 grams per week.

As part of a balanced diet the Society advocates eating more fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and pulses, cutting down on foods high in calories, fat and sugar, reducing alcohol consumption, and cutting down on salt.

Eating a healthy diet, being physically active, and being a healthy weight, the Society said, can reduce cancer risk by one-third.

To download a booklet and other resources on reducing your risk of cancer visit www.cancer.ie/publications/reduce-your-risk on the Society’s website.