Processed ham remains a normal food in the daily diet, but this is no longer the case according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which has classified processed meats as Group 1: carcinogenic to humans, writes adnkronos.it.
The classification places processed meats in Group 1 based on sufficient evidence in humans, with the strongest link to colorectal cancer.
The definition includes products processed by salting, curing, fermentation, smoking or other processes aimed at preservation and flavor: ham (cooked and raw), sausages, sausages, canned meats and similar preparations.
The scope of application is wide, it is not limited to a single recipe or brand: it concerns a food technology.
The most cited quantification, and one of the few that has entered common parlance, is the relative increase in colorectal cancer risk, estimated at about 18% for each 50-gram serving of processed meat consumed daily, derived from analyses of studies.
This number explains why, in a population that consumes these products regularly, a “moderate” increase in risk for an individual could become a public health problem.
