A recent study published in Nature Medicine found a link between processed meat and various health problems, but an expert weighs in on the limitations of the research and its implications for everyday consumption.
The study’s findings are consistent with previous research, showing that people who consume more processed meat are at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other issues. However, the category of “processed meat” is broad and encompasses vastly different products, from cheap hot dogs to expensive meats like Serrano ham.
Measuring what we eat is a significant challenge in food research, as relying on self-reported data can be inaccurate. Additionally, it’s difficult to create a placebo control for specific foods, making it hard to isolate the effects of processed meat. The study doesn’t address this issue, leaving many questions unanswered about which types of processed meats pose the greatest health risk.
While nitrite preservatives and high levels of fat and salt are often cited as contributors to the negative health effects of processed meat, not all products with these ingredients have been shown to increase cancer risk. Furthermore, the study doesn’t provide clear evidence that processing itself is the primary cause of these issues, rather than other factors associated with consuming more processed meat.
Ultimately, the study’s findings suggest that it’s unlikely to be a good idea to gorge on bacon or consume excessive amounts of processed meat. However, moderate consumption, like having an occasional slice of salami, appears to be less problematic. As one expert notes, more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between processed meat and health outcomes.
Source: https://slate.com/technology/2025/08/processed-meat-no-safe-consumption-study-debunk.html