Last Monday, the World Health Organisation published its report linking processed meats with colorectal cancer.
Bacon, ham, sausages and other cured or salted products are now ‘Group 1’ products with the highest likelihood to cause cancer.
This means that our breakfast banger is now in the same group as tobacco, alcohol, asbestos and radioactive materials such as uranium.
May I ask this simple question? Is there anything that does not cause cancer?
If the entire global population could heed the WHO’s advice and be persuaded to cut its intake of a range of preserved meats we would simply sit still at the breakfast table staring at an empty plate.
I have been suffering from high blood pressure since I was in my teens but I never gave up on bacon and sausages even though I was repeatedly told that the salt content in these products would cause hypertension.
So why all this hysterical coverage? Eating behaviour will not change because there is no clear message about the direct impact on consumers who enjoy sinking their teeth into a delicious English breakfast now and again.