Meat industry rejects report linking its products to cancer

Advisory board insists that avoiding red and processed meat is not a protective strategy against cancer

Britain's meat industry has hit back at the World Health Organisation report that raised alarm over its products by claiming that bacon, sausages and ham cause cancer.

An advisory body funded by British meat producers said the key to preventing cancer was avoiding heavy drinking, not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight. "Red and processed meats do not give you cancer," said Robert Pickard, a member of the Meat Advisory Panel and emeritus professor of neurobiology at the University of Cardiff.