Experts Warn Consumers Processed Meat Is Unsafe For Human Consumption

Informed consumers have known for a while now that the Sodium nitrates found in processed meats are unhealthy, and unfit for human consumption, but these beliefs have been reaffirmed by the World Cancer Research Fund.

Sodium nitrate is added to processed meats by manufacturers for the purpose of preventing botulism by inhibiting the growth of clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that causes it. It also helps to keep the meat from spoiling as quickly. You might not recognize your favorite brand of hot dogs, or lunch meat without the addition of Sodium nitrate, as it effects the color and flavor of the finished product.

While sodium nitrate has long been considered safe by the FDA, natural health experts, as well as a number of physicians and scientist have warned of their possible side effects.

After a five-year project spanning 7,000 studies, cancer researchers published their conclusion in The World Cancer Research Fund’s report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective (2007). They declared that all people should immediately stop buying and eating processed meat products and that processed meats are too dangerous for human consumption. 
 The report can be downloaded for free at dietandcancerreport.org.

The harmful additives in processed meats have been linked to the following health risks:

• Colorectal cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Leukemia
• Breast cancer
• Brain tumors
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Pancreatic cancer

Many people might find themselves a little unsure of the differences between processed meat and fresh meat, so we will briefly go over the basic characteristics of both.

Fresh meat: Has only one ingredient-the meat itself. It must be refrigerated, and has a relatively short shelf-life. It is usually packaged in simple, minimal wrappers.

Processed meat: Has a long shelf-life, and contains many ingredients. And almost always contains sodium nitrate.

Processed meats include:

• Hot Dogs
• Sandwich Meat
• Ham
• Meat in canned soup
• Pepperoni
• Bologna
• Breakfast sausage
• Meat in kids’ lunch products
• Beef jerky
• Deli meat
• Meat in frozen pizza
• Sausage
• Bacon

Remember that no company will tell you their product is dangerous if they can avoid it. The best way to avoid the health risks associated with processed meats is to boycott them all together, or to find a local source of these products that does not add harmful ingredients.