Bacon and other processed meats can cause cancer : Experts

Red meat was classified as probably carcinogenic in IARC's group 2A list, joining glyphosate, the active ingredient in many weedkillers.

The IARC examined some 800 studies during a meeting of 22 health experts earlier this month.

"For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal (bowel) cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but this risk increases with the amount of meat consumed," Dr Kurt Straif of the IARC said in a statement.

The classification for red meat, defined as all types of mammalian meat including beef, lamb and pork, reflected "limited evidence" that it causes cancer. The IARC found links mainly with colorectal cancer - which is a cancer that starts either in the colon or rectum - but also observed associations with pancreatic and prostate cancer.

Inconclusive evidence of a link between processed meat and stomach cancer was also observed, it said.

The news prompted animal rights activists People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to offer free vegan diet starter kits and outraged agriculture groups.

The Canadian Meat Council, which represents meat packers such as Maple Leaf Foods and the Candian-based units of Cargill Ltd. [CARGIL.UL] and JBS SA , rejected the findings as simplistic, while trade group North American Meat Institute said the IARC report "defies common sense."

Some scientists and researchers said the news may not add much to long-standing health recommendations to limit consumption of such meat.