Concern, resignation over stark WHO cancer warning
A statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) linking red and processed meat consumption to cancer has triggered heated discussion in China.
According to the statement issued by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of WHO, limited evidence shows that the consumption of red meat causes cancer in humans, while strong mechanistic evidence supports a carcinogenic effect, thus the consumption of red meat is classified as probably carcinogenic to humans.
However, processed meat is classified as carcinogenic to humans, based on "sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer," said the statement.
The statement, which was published by WHO on its official Sina Weibo on Monday, received over 1,000 comments and 8,000 re-tweets as of press time, with many netizens questioning if the conclusion is exaggerated.
"It would not stop me from enjoying ham or sausage," a netizen wrote on Sina Weibo. Similar unwelcoming comments were also sensed from some of the country's meat processors.
"Meat is an important element for Chinese cuisine and Chinese people share a great love for delicious food, thus the statement may dampen their devotion to red or processed meat, but will not stop them from eating it," said Fan Zhihong, a professor at the School of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering of China Agricultural University.
According to a Forbes' report on in March 2014, the world consumption of pork in 2013 was 107 million tons and China consumed more than half of it.
Liu Jintao, vice marketing manager of Shuanghui, China's largest pork producer, said the IARC report was "deeply regrettable," the Xinhua News Agency reported.
"Although no orders have been called off, many customers called us to inquire about meat safety and sales after the IARC report was published," Ma Xiaozhong, head of Jinhua Ham Industry Association, told Xinhua.
Ma explained that only salt was added to meat in traditional ham making, but modern meat processing also added nitrite for corrosion prevention.
Ma Wenfeng, a senior analyst at Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consultant, told the Global Times that the statement may affect the sales and consumption of red or processed meat in a short period, but cannot cause a profound impact on Chinese people's eating habits.
