County Farm Bureau president responds to beef cancer claim
A report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that claims red and processed meats cause cancer is a bunch of bull, according to Van Zandt County Farm Bureau President, Brian Cummins.
"Science does not support the IARC's claim," Cummins said. "Scientists on IARC's panel who studied the issue for seven days could not come to an agreement on whether or not there's solid evidence that red meat causes cancer. And yet, they issued a report saying it's probable."
IARC, an arm of the World Health Organization, classified processed meats like ham and bacon as carcinogenic to humans. Red meat was classified as probably carcinogenic to humans.
"Scientists have been studying cancer and its causes for years," Cummins said. "Genetics, environment and lifestyle choices all play a role in whether or not this complex disease develops in a person or not. Science simply does not support IARC's claim that meat causes colorectal cancer."
In the past, IARC has studied sunlight, odd sleeping hours due to shift work and eating pickled vegetables as other possible causes for cancer. IARC is set to meet in 2016 to study the effects of coffee.
"I urge our community to do its research and look past all the 'shock and wow' reports," Cummins said. "IARC's classification system is antiquated and clouds the facts."
