Anxiety on processed meat to cause cancer will not last long: The Washington Post

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. A cancer specialist now says that findings by a World Health Organization body that red and processed meat can cause cancer need to be questioned, especially in Africa. “Armenpress” informs about this, citing The Washington Post.

Dr Catherine Nyongesa, an oncologist at the Kenyatta National Hospital, says that although the international health agency had raised the red flag on meat, the product does not feature on the list of top 10 causes of cancer.

“There is no sufficient evidence to condemn red meat,” Dr Nyongesa says.

She said that before red meat is entirely categorised among other substances and exposures that can lead to cancer such as tobacco and alcohol, more research should be done.

“So far, we have not seen any link between meat and cancer in this country. Therefore, I think that the research that was released is wanting and scientists need to carry out local research,” she says.

Last week, the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer warned that processed meats such as bacon, sausages and ham can cause cancer.

In its statement, the agency said there was enough evidence to rank processed meat in the same category as asbestos, alcohol, arsenic and tobacco.

The agency also said that there was evidence that eating a lot of red meat (beef, lamb and pork) could expose one to cancers of the colon, pancreas and even prostate cancer.

“After thoroughly reviewing the accumulated scientific literature, 22 experts classified the consumption of red meat as probably carcinogenic to humans,” the research centre said on Monday.

This statement sent the world into a frenzy.

But Dr Nyongesa says that the warning may not really be applicable to Africa where some communities whose staple food is red meat have not recorded an increase in cancer cases.

“The Maasai practically survive on meat yet we have not seen an upsurge of colon cancer,” says Dr Nyongesa.

And so do many meat lovers.

Robison Ndung’u says that despite the gloomy news, he will still have meat as tender and juicy as he likes it.

But Martin Njeru, who enjoys a plate of beef stew every Saturday, is taking the report seriously.

“This definitely gives me shivers especially after seeing a close friend succumb to cancer,” he says.