"Avoid This to Prevent Colorectal Cancer: 'This' Is on Par with Alcohol and Smoking"

Classified as a Group 1 Carcinogen by WHO Alongside Tobacco and Alcohol
"Doctors Are Not Actively Warning About the Risks"

Bacon, classified as a representative processed meat (photo for reference). Pixabay

World-renowned cancer specialists have long warned that 'processed meat' significantly increases the risk of colorectal cancer, but people are overlooking this danger.

On the 16th (local time), the British Daily Mail published an article titled "The main cause of colorectal cancer under 50 is 'often overlooked food'."

According to research, the number of young people worldwide diagnosed with this disease has surged by 80% over the past 30 years. Scientists speculate that various factors behind this phenomenon include increased pollution, rising obesity rates, and even invisible plastic particles contained in drinking water.

Peter S. Liang, a cancer specialist at New York University, said in an interview with Medscape Medical News, "I routinely counsel patients about lifestyle and dietary risk factors, including processed meat," adding, "However, I am not sure how often doctors specifically mention this in actual clinical practice."

He also stated, "The most important factor in prevention is strong motivation," and added, "Doctors should continuously deliver the message to the public to aim to reduce consumption of processed meats such as ham and bacon."

Meanwhile, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), processed meat is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen alongside smoking and alcohol. Processed meat is medically defined as "meat that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavor or preservation." Because chemical preservatives such as nitrates are added during this process, they convert into other chemicals in the intestines, increasing the likelihood of tumor development.

A UK study involving 500,000 people also found that those who regularly consume processed meats like bacon, sausages, and deli ham have a 40% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.