Blog: Processed meat again in firing line

Dean Best | 7 March 2013

Thousands of fry-ups were this morning eaten against a back-drop of news headlines reviving claims processed meat could be linked to early deaths. The industry may be frustrated but the reports will only add to concern that eating too much meat could be bad for you.

A study of over almost half a million people across ten in European countries found the biggest consumers of processed meat were more likely to die early and develop cancer and heart disease.

The conclusions echo those made in previous studies, including one in 2007 that linked processed meat to cancer and the significant sample in this new study certainly grabbed attention.

Processed meats manufacturers would be right to express concern over the conclusions of the report. Can heart disease or cancer be singularly pointed at processed meat? What about lack of exercise or a low intake of fruit and veg?

However, the study is likely to add to concerns over processed meat; consumers are thinking twice about the amount of meat they consume and, even if not giving up completely, are having more 'meat-free' days.