Anyone giving up bacon?

[5MilesBack]

I just saw the WHO's (World Health Organization) so-called "new" report that bacon and other processed meats cause cancer, so they've put them in the same category as smoking as far as cancer risks go. They've also warned against "grilling" meat as it supposedly releases carcinogens.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ts-processed-meats-can-cause-cancer/74615390/

That's kind of funny as I remember reading a story over 30 years ago, when I was in high school, about the cancer risks of bacon. I guess the WHO is a little late to the party. It was then that I determined to eat as much bacon as I wanted, whenever I wanted. I still do, and still will. I also grill most every piece of meat we eat.

Anybody giving up bacon or processed meats or grilled meat based on these studies?

 

[PMcGee]

I'm not. It seems everything gives you cancer these days.

 

[JG358]

Give up Bacon and BBQ? Never!!

 

[beachbunny]

no but i am going to try my hand at making some.

 

[JG358]

I'm not. It seems everything gives you cancer these days.

Thats about the truth. Bought a piece of unfinished oak that had a warning on it saying "this product is known in the state of CA to cause cancer". All the warnings make me think that CA causes cancer.

 

[AndyB]

Sounds like the WHO has been infiltrated by vegans!

 

[mmw194287]

It's in the same category as smoking because they can identify the link--not because it's as bad as smoking. The categorizations are based on how certain they are that the substance in question is the actual cause. Eating processed meats only increases your risk by 18%, whereas smoking is something like 2000%. So out of 1,000 vegans, 65 will get colorectal cancer; out of 1,000 processed meat eaters, 75 will get colorectal cancer. I'll take my chances.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Nope. Haven't given up UV exposure either. Or Copenhagen on special occasions, like a backpack elk hunt.

 

[Roy68]

Absolutely not!!

 

[Ben]

Can we please have this offensive post delete?

 

[dotman]

The WHO don't know crap

 

[Poser]

I'm sure they painstakingly controlled for all variables in their study group......

 

[good2eat]

Only after I'm taking a dirt nap!

 

[airlocksniffer]

As with anything, moderation is key. Sure, the vegetarian may have a 5% longer life span but they are at least 50% more insufferable at parties.

 

[COlineman78]

**Rant Warning**
Okay, so I am sick of the news reporting on scientific studies. I beg you to take any such reports with a grain of salt if not ignore them completely. Scientific papers published in scientific settings or journals make some assumptions about the reader in that they understand the scientific process which is that these papers are to be taken with skepticism and assumed to be arguing some sort of hypothesis or theory. They are not intended to be taken at face value. I have read excerpts of the article in question and it is a weak argument of suppositions and correlation, not causation as it is being reported by the news.
**END RANT**

The takeaway... There is correlation between processed meats and cancer, however they also mention correlation in red meats as well. I believe this correlation is caused by other inferences you can make about the lifestyle of those who don't eat processed meats or are vegetarians. As a whole those two choices usually mean on average the person has chosen a more healthy lifestyle. That's not to say that you can't have a healthy lifestyle and eat all the bacon in the world as I'm sure many of us do, but since that puts us in with the general population and the largest group, we get drowned out into the statistics. So, please ignore anything that says the words "causes cancer" as this is a weak correlation at best. Also, the best thing about statistics is that you can make them say anything you want. I bet I could do a study that says people who shop at Whole(-paycheck) Foods weigh less and therefore you could make the statement that simply shopping there makes you lose weight. Obviously we know better in that people who shop there are more cognoscente of what they eat, but statistics don't lie .

 

[5MilesBack]

On a side note I also saw where they found 10% of veggie dogs to contain meat, and 2% contained human DNA.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

If they stopped feeding the critters GMO corn and grains that would solve the problem but are they? Hell no. I'd rather die than give up bacon.

 

[mmw194287]

I have read excerpts of the article in question and it is a weak argument of suppositions and correlation, not causation as it is being reported by the news.

I agree with your take on most scientific reporting, but the fact is that yesterday's news has nothing to do with a scientific paper based on wishy-washy correlation. The WHO has classified processed meats as a group one carcinogen given the strength of scientific evidence (the red meat deal is a different story). This is the highest standard for such a classification and so it also applies to things like cigarettes and radioactive materials, which has created some confusion. What's being misreported is the risk posed by consumption, not the connection between processed meats and cancer. I think its safe to say that the experts at the WHO are aware of the pitfalls of causation-correlation.

 

[BroodBuster]

A non peer reviewed study by BroodBuster has determined aging is a leading cause of death .

Everything else is just a minor contributer.

 

[mmw194287]

Life is a degenerative process...