Understanding the World Health Organization's New Classification for Processed and Red Meats

Processed meats like hot dogs, sausage and ham cause colon cancer in humans, according to a report issued Monday by the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency. The report also classified red meat as “probably carcinogenic.” The findings state that each 50 grams of processed meat consumed regularly increases the risk of colon cancer by 18 percent. Critics of the report point to meat’s nutritional value and question the causal relationship between meat and cancer. We discuss what the report means and who’s most at risk.

• More: Bad Day For Bacon: Processed Meats Cause Cancer, WHO Says (State of Health)
• More: How Red Meat Joined the 478 Other Things That Might Give You Cancer (Bloomberg Business)