Morning News Beijing time 26 evening, the World Health Organization under the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) a report will be processed meat products as "a class of carcinogens". Does this mean that ham, bacon and other processed meat products can not be eaten? Experts believe it should be viewed rationally.

Dr. Zhong Kai, a food safety expert, also pointed out that despite being classified as a class 1 carcinogen, it doesn't mean that processed meat has become a poison "alongside arsenic.

Zhong Kai introduced, IARC will be divided into four categories of carcinogens, processed meat and arsenic does belong to the same class 1, but the carcinogen classification is not based on who is more capable of causing cancer, but the degree of scientific evidence. The more evidence of carcinogenicity is clear, the higher the level, while the ability to cause cancer is not necessarily related to the classification.

"Carcinogens also have the concept of 'quantity'". Zhong Kai emphasized that, as the saying goes, "everything is poisonous, the key is in the dose", even if it is a class of carcinogens, leading to cancer is a long process of accumulation. Alcohol is a class of carcinogens, we all know that drinking is harmful to the body, long-term alcoholism is a great increase in the risk of liver cancer, but the occasional drink is no big deal. The same goes for processed meats and red meats.

"If you don't consume a lot, your body's metabolism will metabolize the harmful substances, so you won't get cancer from eating a little processed meat. If it is consumed in large quantities over a long period of time, the chances of getting the disease may increase." Luo Yunbo, a professor at China Agricultural University's School of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, said.

Experts also suggested developing scientific and healthy eating habits to achieve a balanced diet.

Zhong Kai said, on the one hand, we should control the intake of red meat and processed meat reasonable, while mixing and matching with chicken and duck meat and fish. In accordance with the recommendations of the Balanced Diet Pagoda, the recommended amount of livestock and poultry meat per day for adults is 1 two to 1 two and a half, and the recommendations of the British National Health Service is also to control the daily intake of red meat and processed meat at about 1 two and a half. On the other hand, since the process of smoking and curing is inherently unhealthy, it's better to prioritize fresh meat when you have the means to eat it