Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Food

Study Finds Definitive Link Between Processed Meats & Cancer


By

Nell Casey

Published Oct 26, 2015

Modified Oct 26, 2015


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Succulent, delicious plate of DEATH

 

rachelleb/Flickr


By

Nell Casey

Published Oct 26, 2015

Modified Oct 26, 2015


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Good thing we all swore off hot dogs last week because eating them may lead to cancer. A bold declaration by the World Health Organization points the finger at processed meats like hot dogs, sausages and bacon, saying there's "sufficient evidence" that consumption of these products "causes colorectal cancer." They also stated that red meat is "probably carcinogenic to humans" and could lead to not only colorectal cancer but also pancreatic and prostate cancers.

The link between consumption of red meats and an increased cancer risk has been explored before, but the WHO's stance is one of the most definitive, living no wiggle room to their findings. The panel of 22 international experts stated in no uncertain terms that eating 50 grams of processed meat daily increased the risk for colorectal cancer by 18%, citing decades worth of documentation on the subject.

The meat lobby and others were quick to denounce the findings, going to far as to say the WHO "tortured the data" to arrive at their conclusion. Still, multiple studies came to similar conclusions regarding health risks associated with eating processed and red meats and furthermore, conventional agriculture/farming is a huge contributor to climate change. Either way, meat is murder.

Tagged

cancer

meat

processed meat

red meat

who

world health organizations


Nell Casey

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE food

10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City

The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.

By

Robert Sietsema

Published Sep 12, 2026


Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.

Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.

By

Sonia Rao

Food

Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.

Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.

By

Sonia Rao


5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's

By

Hannah Frishberg

Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian

By

Robert Sietsema

Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?

By

Caroline Shin


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .