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Debate Over Warning Labels on Processed Meats

Meat + Poultry staff reported that the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) called for the US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) to require processed meat and poultry products such as hot dogs, bacon, ham, etc., to bear warning labels informing consumers that eating such foods increases the risk of colon and rectal cancer. The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) responded stating that seeking warning labels on safe USDA inspected food is the latest example of scare tactics used by the "food police."

CSPI cites the findings of 2015 research from the International Agency for Research (IARC) that concluded processed meat is "carcinogenic to humans."

"Consumers deserve these warning labels to help them make informed choices about the foods they eat," said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson in a statement; while NAMI President and CEO Barry Carpenter claims the petition ignores numerous studies that show no correlation between meat and cancer and evidence shows cancer is a complex disease not caused by a single food source.  


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