Processed Meats
WHO consider all of these a carcinogen (even those without nitrates and nitrites). It's the nitrates and nitrites that are the problem.
Usually red meat (anything from a mammal).
Risk of developing bowel, colon and rectal cancers.
Very high in fat too.
I'll let the WHO define what processed meats are:
Processed meat refers to meat that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavour or improve preservation. Most processed meats contain pork or beef, but processed meats may also contain other red meats, poultry, offal, or meat by-products such as blood. Examples of processed meat include hot dogs (frankfurters), ham, sausages, corned beef, and biltong or beef jerky as well as canned meat and meat-based preparations and sauces.1
Carcinogenic
Think of these as the meat equivalent of cigarettes.
These all contain nitrates and/or nitrites, or are treated with nitrates that are converted to nitrites;
- bacon
- beef jerky
- biltong
- canned meats
- chorizo
- corned beef
- frankfurters
- ham
- pepperoni
- salami
- sausages not produced in the UK and Ireland
Not Carcinogenic
- bacon free from nitrates and nitrites
- prosciutto - Italian ham
- sausages produced in the UK and Ireland (sulfites are used instead)