Processed and red meat: what are the cancer risks?

The following Q&A was produced by the World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer

Q. What is processed meat?

A. Meat is described as processed when it has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking or other processes to enhance its flavour or improve preservation. Most processed meats contain pork or beef, but they may also contain other red meats, poultry, offal and meat by-products such as blood.