The release of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)’s review of meat and cancer risk has dominated the news media.
The World Health Organization agency evaluated the carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat and announced their findings this week. The Working Group of 22 experts determined the consumption of red meat as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) and classified processed meat as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).
Resulting media coverage has widely reported the findings with varying degrees of accuracy. A good summary of the review and what the classifications really mean can be found on the Cancer Research UK website.
You can read expert commentary collected by the Science Media Centre here.
New Zealand coverage includes:
Rotorua Daily Post: Editorial: Going cold turkey is OTT
Otago Daily Times: Balancing risks and benefits
New Zealand Herald: Meat lovers urged to restrict intake
MSN NZ News: Meat not as bad as cigarettes: scientists
TVNZ News: Cancer link ‘weak’ say meat processors reacting to WHO report
Stuff.co.nz: Now that the World Health Organisation says processed meat causes cancer, should we all go vegetarian?
RadioLIVE: The healthy amount of meat you should be eating
NewstalkZB: Kiwis don’t eat enough red meat to get cancer
Stuff.co.nz: Q+A: The WHO’s warning about meat
RadioLIVE: Is it still safe to BBQ the bangers this summer?
Otago Daily Times: Processed meat linked to cancer
New Zealand Herald: Cancer risk from processed meat: Should we all become vegetarians?
3 News: Specialists say no need to stop eating meat
Radio New Zealand: Processed meats classed as carcinogens
TVNZ News: Cancer link ‘weak’ say meat processors reacting to WHO report
Stuff.co.nz: Processed meat, including bacon, linked to cancer – and red meat is risky too: WHO