Terrifying numbers about the link between processed meats and diabetes, heart disease and cancer
A new study has warned of the dangers of eating sausages and their association with many leading diseases in the United States of America, despite their being considered a popular and widespread food.
Public health data published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal suggests that cutting processed meat consumption by 30% – cutting out about 61 grams per week – could prevent 352,900 cases of type 2 diabetes, 92,500 cases of cardiovascular disease, 53,300 cases of colorectal cancer and 16,700 deaths from any cause .
Scientists from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill agreed that given the high doses of sodium and saturated fat in processed meats, the solutions lie in replacing processed meats with fresh, frozen or even canned poultry instead of processed meats .
Compared with unprocessed red meat, such as ground beef or sirloin, processed meat is more clearly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers, such as colorectal cancer. However, despite the scarcity of conclusive studies on unprocessed red meat, the authors of the current study found preliminary signs that eating processed meat or unprocessed red meat could lead to negative health outcomes in the long term .
Using public health and nutrition data from 8,665 individuals, the international team of researchers created a “microsimulation” of more than 242 million adults in the United States . At baseline, the researchers found that processed meat consumption in the United States was about 29 grams per day, while unprocessed red meat was consumed at about 46.7 grams per day . The models suggest that a 30% reduction in either measure could result in more than 1 million fewer cases of type 2 diabetes, 382,400 fewer cases of cardiovascular disease, 84,400 fewer cases of colorectal cancer, and 62,200 fewer deaths from all causes over a 10-year period.
In 2015, the World Health Organization officially classified processed meat as “carcinogenic.” A 2021 meta-analysis found that eating 50 grams of processed meat per day increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent . The American Heart Association recommends limiting processed meat intake to about 100 grams per week, or roughly 14 grams per day .
Despite more and more findings linking consumption to chronic health effects, national consumption of processed meat in the United States has not declined in the past two decades .
Considering that diabetes affects nearly 12% of the U.S. population today, and nearly 30% of those over the age of 65, this single dietary change could help millions live healthier lives .
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are scheduled to be updated in 2025, form the basis for U.S. federal food policy, the creation of food assistance programs, school lunches, and early nutrition education. The study authors concluded that a specific recommendation to reduce processed meat intake could have “broad implications, particularly for children and youth in the United States .”
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