Easy on the bacon but don't panic, Hong Kong health minister says after WHO warning on processed meats
Tobacco deemed much more dangerous than processed meats in spite of WHO warning
A recent health warning on processed meats by a global health watchdog is more an academic reference than a cause for alarm, the health minister said.
Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man said in the Legislative Council yesterday that health risks posed by processed meats such as sausage, ham and bacon were not comparable to tobacco. The warning was not a strong point of reference for the public, he said.
His remarks came after the World Health Organisation created a stir with its announcement on October 26 that processed meats would join its foremost group of items deemed carcinogenic and that there was "sufficient evidence" of a link to colorectal cancer. Tobacco and diesel engine exhaust were also listed among WHO's 'group 1' carcinogenic items.
READ MORE: Appetite intact: Hong Kong consumers so far unfazed by WHO warning that processed meat could cause cancer
"While processed meats were placed in the same group as tobacco, their cancer risk cannot compare to that of smoking," said Ko. "There is a big difference between these two items in causing death."
He said there were around 34,000 cases of cancer-related deaths due to over-consumption of processed meats around the world every year, while smoking was linked to one million cancer-related deaths.
Ko said the WHO's study would be of greater value for academic institutions and public health officials than for the general public.
"We don't think the public has to stop eating processed meats, but eating more would increase the risk of colorectal cancer," he said. "Therefore it's still better to eat less" of the meats.