The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, today released a bombshell of a report warning that bacon and other processed meats can cause cancer.
Put down the bacon: WHO says meats causes cancer https://t.co/MecNn0Ju58 pic.twitter.com/67ahh3zwyA
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) October 26, 2015
A group of 22 scientists from the IARC evaluated more than 800 studies from several continents about meat and cancer. The studies looked at more than a dozen types of cancer in populations with diverse diets over the past 20 years.
Based on that analysis, the IARC classified processed meat as “carcinogenic to humans,” noting links in particular to colon cancer. It said red meat contains some important nutrients, but still labeled it “probably carcinogenic,” with links to colon, prostate and pancreatic cancers.
Processed meats include sausages, beef jerky and anything smoked. Red meats include beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse and goat. (Horse? The report notes that the study compiled data from “several continents.”)
While groups ranging from the American Cancer Society to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association try to figure out how to respond to the WHO’s study, the Chicago Tribune wants to know if its Twitter followers have been influenced to change their diets.
Will you change your diet after the WHO report about bacon and other processed meats possibly causing cancer?
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) October 26, 2015
@chicagotribune Hell no
— Steve S. (@steve_s_iz_cool) October 26, 2015
@hboulware We've been through this bacon cancer thing before. It's utter bullshit. I'll eat your bacon if you're too frightened of it, BTW
— SnakePlisskenish (@_CrotalusAtrox_) October 26, 2015
You will get none of my bacon. https://t.co/63dTWsBuZk
— Heather (@hboulware) October 26, 2015
Attn Twitter: News reports now say bacon is dangerous. I'm willing to go out on a limb and take all your bacon off your hands because I care
— Meta World Data (@Pqlyur1) October 26, 2015
@chicagotribune Don't be ridiculous
— Patrick Patel (@HotRodBlago30) October 26, 2015
@chicagotribune No. Key word, "possibly," and everything seems to cause cancer so I might as well enjoy life with bacon.
— Angie Boesche (@angieboesche) October 26, 2015
@chicagotribune No, seems like almost anything can possibly cause cancer. Gonna die at some point either way might as well enjoy what i eat.
— Jeezus (@YoungKushedGod) October 26, 2015
@chicagotribune you come for my bacon and we are going to have some trouble.
— Richard Hill (@ComicOzzie58) October 26, 2015
You can pry bacon out of my cold, dead, cancer-ridden hands. https://t.co/curcC2zldZ
— Byron Tau (@ByronTau) October 26, 2015
Just FYI – I'm never giving up bacon.
— Kristina Ribali (@KristinaRibali) October 26, 2015
I'm pretty shocked that my brother and I haven't yet received a gloating text from our vegan mother about this bacon-causes-cancer news.
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) October 26, 2015
Bacon causes cancer?
Well I’m going to try to eat it all so no one else has to suffer.
Not all heroes wear capes.
— Ol' QWERTY Bastard (@TheDiLLon1) October 26, 2015
Editor’s note: We’ve removed a duplicate tweet from this post.
