NEWS: Bacon and other processed meats cause cancer, claims WHO report

[Bill Bumface]

I just wanted to come in here to show off to everyone how much I love bacon. Yay bacon! I love bacon! Woooo!

I bet you don't even bacon bro.

http://www.winterwebb.com/2011/07/ba...the-shark.html

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I hate the word "processed" in these terms. Cutting the meat is a process, adding spices is a process, cooking is a process, etc. What crazy process is causing cancer? It's either the meat, or a specific process/processes.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it's the nitrates that are supposedly causing cancer.

[JonDuke]

This burger has bacon. I would probably eat one daily if I lived in Ottawa.
And yeah...that Reese Peanut Butter Cups in there too.

http://www.foodandwine.com/fwx/food/...ow_facebook_fw

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I hate the word "processed" in these terms. Cutting the meat is a process, adding spices is a process, cooking is a process, etc. What crazy process is causing cancer? It's either the meat, or a specific process/processes.

I agree with this. What process is actually the reason for the hubbub?

[Daradon]

Yeah, I don't fully understand what processed means. Like there's the obvious packaged stuff and prepared stuff like bologna and salami and frozen chicken wings. But then I heard that deli meats are processed too. Not just the packaged ones, but the ones you actually get from the deli. I always thought those were a cut above, pun intended. I thought I was avoiding a lot of bad stuff by going to the deli over the refrigerator section.

Now the bacon is processed? Isn't it just cut?

What does this mean, do we have to be hunting our own meat for it not to be processed? Does anyone understand where processed begins and ends? Soon they'll be telling us our raw ground beef is processed.

[troutman]

There was a great scene in Last Man On Earth, where they enjoy a hidden stash of bacon. Will look for a video ...



Much better than crickets. Bacon in a twinkie.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Yeah, I don't fully understand what processed means. Like there's the obvious packaged stuff and prepared stuff like bologna and salami and frozen chicken wings. But then I heard that deli meats are processed too. Not just the packaged ones, but the ones you actually get from the deli. I always thought those were a cut above, pun intended. I thought I was avoiding a lot of bad stuff by going to the deli over the refrigerator section.

Now the bacon is processed? Isn't it just cut?

What does this mean, do we have to be hunting our own meat for it not to be processed? Does anyone understand where processed begins and ends? Soon they'll be telling us our raw ground beef is processed.

Processed meat for purposes of the cancer evaluation is defined in the report:

Processed meat refers to meat that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavour or improve preservation. Most processed meats contain pork or beef, but processed meats may also contain other red meats, poultry, offal, or meat by-products such as blood.

[Harju]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Yeah, I don't fully understand what processed means. Like there's the obvious packaged stuff and prepared stuff like bologna and salami and frozen chicken wings. But then I heard that deli meats are processed too. Not just the packaged ones, but the ones you actually get from the deli. I always thought those were a cut above, pun intended. I thought I was avoiding a lot of bad stuff by going to the deli over the refrigerator section.

Now the bacon is processed? Isn't it just cut?

What does this mean, do we have to be hunting our own meat for it not to be processed? Does anyone understand where processed begins and ends? Soon they'll be telling us our raw ground beef is processed.

Processed meat has been modified to either extend its shelf life or change the taste. The main methods are smoking, curing, or adding salt or preservatives. Deli meats may vary but I would say most are processed. Ham, salami etc are of course processed but the roast beef slices maybe not. Bacon is the proud poster child of processed meat.

[Daradon]

Well, we know that smoke, even in foods is carcinogenic, so that's hardly news.

Salt is bad for your circulatory system.

I guess that means though, if I shoot a deer, and make sausage, and put it in my smoker, really I'm just processing my own meat. So then, processed and packaged meats AREN'T the boogymen we are told they are? It's all in how it's prepared, whether it's by a corporation or by us?

I guess you cut out a lot of (all?) the preservatives by doing it yourself. Though curing is a way to preserve. Still I thought those 'real' deli meats had less preservatives. Though I guess they're still prepared by a corporation, just sliced fresh for me.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Harju

Processed meat has been modified to either extend its shelf life or change the taste. The main methods are smoking, curing, or adding salt or preservatives. Deli meats may vary but I would say most are processed. Ham, salami etc are of course processed but the roast beef slices maybe not. Bacon is the proud poster child of processed meat.

Through salt, smoke (sometimes depending) and preservatives. Am I right?

And maple flavoring! Yum!

[troutman]

mmmm, offal

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Through salt, smoke (sometimes depending) and preservatives. Am I right?

And maple flavoring! Yum!

Lots of sugar too. Curing typically involves just salt and sugar. Other things like smoke (usually liquid) and maple are added for flavor. You basically just add sugar/salt and store in a cool place for a few days/weeks.

The salt and drying preserve the meat by making it a less hospitable environment for bacteria/mold. Cured fat also has a different texture.

Nitrates are also commonly added as preserving agents.

I've tried curing my own bacon several times, with mixed to poor results.

[Hack&Lube]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilt...pert-1.3290551

So why is red meat and processed meat associated with cancer? We are not sure. At McMaster we are studying the possibility that these dietary items may actually modify the expression of genes associated with cancer development. We don't yet know for sure. There are other hypotheses related to chemicals involved in cooking meat with fire with the development of heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or the role of salt nitrate that you can find in processed meat. There is no consensus on how this is happening but I think it is time we provide the population with reasons because these agents are actually causing cancer.