Big news today:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21682779
The data appears both robust and impressive.
The good news is that:
1 - Eating a small amount of red meat (even processed) is actually good for you, and;
2 - It's okay (or at least not very harmful) to eat small quantities od processed meat.
A lot of BBQ nutters here (I mean that in the nicest way), but I'm not sure anyone is smoking food for every meal. If you live off bacon, sausages and smoked ribs, you probably need to have a re-think, though we probably all knew that anyway. But if you just eat these maybe once or twice a week, I think you're looking pretty safe.
The big thing to note, they're still not sure why processed meat in quantity is bad for you, just that it is. Also important to note, they're no longer counting fresh meat which has been minced as processed. So if you mince your own, or get the butcher to mince it fresh for you, then burgers are now fine.
If you read the actual publication (linkat the BBC), one important hing I notice is that people who eat more fresh fruit and veg tend to eat less processed meat - probably in part because they're full!
Steve W
bearing in mind a failiure at O level chemistry something that most processed meat has in one way or another are phosphates for preservation and colour. So if you make true "artisan" sausages with herbs and spices rather than pre-mix they SHOULD be counted almost as fresh meat as well. (hopefully