Chemicals commonly added to bacon, ham and processed meats should be banned after research shows they increase the risk of cancer, a scientist has said.
A study from Queen’s University in Belfast found that mice fed processed pork containing nitrites developed 75 percent more tumors than mice fed meat without the chemicals.
Professor Chris Elliott OBE, one of the study’s authors, said the results “make the cancer risk associated with nitrite-baked meat even clearer”.
He urged the government to “follow the facts” and ban manufacturers from adding the chemical to food.
A study from Queen’s University Belfast found that mice fed processed pork containing nitrites developed 75 percent more tumors than mice fed meat without the chemicals
Nitrites are commonly used in processed meats to extend their shelf life by fighting bacteria that can cause diseases such as salmonella, listeriosis and botulism.
Most importantly, they also add an enticing savory flavor and a copper-appealing fresh pink hue to products such as bacon.
Around 90 per cent of bacon sold in UK supermarkets contains the chemical and it is believed that more than half of people’s dietary intake of the chemical comes from meat.
There is evidence that processed meat increases the risk of colon cancer, and in 2015 the World Health Organization (WHO) classified processed meat as a carcinogen. Nitrites have also been linked to breast and prostate cancer.
Scientists are still investigating what role nitrites may play in this, as other factors may also be to blame.
However, research suggests that when the chemicals enter the stomach, they can contribute to the production of carcinogens called nitrosamines.
In the latest study, researchers in Ireland fed mice processed meat containing nitrites for 15 percent of their diet.
Another group of mice, the control group, was given the same amount of meat, but it contained no chemicals.
The results, published in the journal Nature, show that those fed nitrite-free meat saw no increase in their tumors, while those who ate nitrite-rich meat developed 75 percent more.
In addition, those fed meat containing the chemical developed 82 percent more tumors in their intestines than the control group.
The team recognized that a diet consisting of 15 percent nitrite-rich processed meat represented a high intake.
But they said even eating the food in smaller amounts can still increase your risk of developing cancer.
Professor Elliott, who led the inquiry into the 2013 horsemeat scandal, told The Guardian the government should change its stance on nitrites in processed meat in response to the findings.
He said: “The results of this new study make the cancer risk of nitrite-cleared meat even clearer.
“Everyday consumption of nitrite-rich bacon and ham poses a very real public health risk.”
Dr Brian Green, a nutritionist at the university, told the newspaper that the results show that not all processed meats cause the same risk of cancer and that processed meats containing nitrites increase the risk of developing tumors.
French food watchdogs this summer advised people not to eat more than 150 grams of processed meat a week after finding a link with colon cancer.
And the European Food Safety Authority warned in October that people were consuming unsafe levels of nitrites.
Professor Elliott added: “The European Food Safety Authority and the French government are following the facts. It’s time the UK government did the same.”
Some British experts and politicians, led by the Conservative MP, dr. Daniel Poulter, previously called for a total ban on this side of the channel.
DR Poulter, a former health secretary under David Cameron, received bipartisan support for his motion.
He urged meat producers to use more natural alternatives that perform the preservation function without the added risk of cancer.
But UK meat producers have hit back, saying some producers have already reduced nitrite consumption by as much as 60 per cent compared to historic levels.
And nitrite-free options are already available in some UK supermarkets.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
