Which countries need to cut back on bacon?

A new report from the World Health Organisation has shown that processed meat such as bacon and sausages cause cancer. By simply eating more than 50g of processed meat a day – barely enough to make a sandwich  – your chances of developing colorectal cancer increase by 18%. Red meat was also warned to be “probably carcinogenic”.

The report suggests that people cut processed meats such as ham, salami, sausage and bacon from their diet as much as possible, and says people should limit their consumption of red meat to less than 500g per week.

According to OECD data, Australia, the United States and Israel are the countries most likely to be disappointed by the news. Those countries topped the list for the world’s highest consumption of meat, the average Australian consuming nearly 100kg of meat each year, or 250g a day.

Cutting back on meat consumption would have benefits beyond a healthier population. The production of red meat requires 11 times more water, and creates five times more climate-changing emissions than does chicken or pork. Livestock farming also accounts for roughly half of the world’s agricultural land use. That is a substantial waste of space when compared to efficiencies from producing agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables and grain. Switching from livestock to other food sources would have a significant impact on curbing the 14% of global greenhouse emissions produced by livestock, as well as helping to produce more food to end world hunger.

Some campaigners say the easiest way for individuals to improve the state of the world would be to cut down on meat consumption, with one recommendation being to go vegetarian one day a week.

Author: Donald Armbrecht is a freelance writer and a social media producer.

Image: Pigs in their stall at a farm in France, September 2, 2015. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe