Require processed meat products to have a carcinogenic warning label

Background

We call on the UK Government to introduce mandatory, front-of-pack cancer warning labels on processed meat products sold to inform consumers that regular consumption can increase the risk of bowel cancer.

Additional details

The WHO’s IARC classifies processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen (like tobacco) and confirms it causes bowel cancer. According to the WHO, eating 50g daily increases bowel cancer risk by 18%, and Cancer Research UK estimates 13% of UK bowel cancers are caused by processed meat. Bowel cancer is the UK’s 4th most common cancer, with 48,200 cases yearly. Cases among 25–49-year-olds have risen around 22% since the early 1990s. We believe consumers have a right to know the health risks of processed meat.

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