Warning issued to anyone who eats hot dogs or burgers as barbecue season arrives
The Express reports that US researchers have released the findings of a new project which saw them review over 70 previous studies, comprising millions of participants. The research examined the link between processed meat and a wide range of illnesses including Type 2 diabetes, cancer and ischemic heart disease.
The study found that even the smallest portion of processed meats was the worst addition to a person's diet, even compared to trans fats and sugary drinks.
The University of Washington team wrote in their paper: "The monotonic increases in health risk with increased consumption of processed meat suggest that there is not a 'safe' amount of processed meat consumption with respect to diabetes or colorectal cancer risk.
"Habitual consumption of even small amounts of processed meat, sugary drinks, and trans fatty acids is linked to increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease and colorectal cancer."
The equivalent of one hot dog a day was associated with at least an 11 per cent higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, and a 7 per cent higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to eating no meat at all.
Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised to "Avoid processed meat and limit red meat to no more than 3 portions a week to lower your risk of bowel cancer."
The research found that even one hot dog a day may be too high, with the authors explaining in Nature that more examination is required but that there is a "merit" to limiting consumption.
They wrote: "These associations each received two-star ratings reflecting weak relationships or inconsistent input evidence, highlighting both the need for further research and—given the high burden of these chronic diseases—the merit of continuing to recommend limiting consumption of these foods."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
AAI: Plan to defer alcohol health labels is disappointing
The deferral of plans to require health labelling on alcoholic drinks is very disappointing, Chairperson of Alcohol Action Ireland has said. The labels, which were due to come in to effect next year, are set to be pushed back to 2029. Public health officials have previously spoken in favour of the labelling, saying that it would reduce alcohol use and increase awareness of the associated risks. Professor Frank Murray, who is also a gastroenterologist, described alcohol as "a very harmful product", adding that it causes "many risks to people's health as well as other aspects of their lives". He said the proposed labels on alcohol products would see nutritional information on the products and would also provide health warnings around cancer, the risk of liver disease and the fact that there is no safe limit of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. "The reason this is so important is because people don't know those risks," he said. He cited a recent Health Service Executive survey that found that less than four-in-ten people understand that there is a risk of cancer associated with alcohol consumption. "They're the only products you can buy in the food and beverage sector that don't have basic nutrition information", he said. He added: "Unfortunately, the risk of alcohol consumption in terms of cancer, for instance, begins at very low levels of alcohol consumption, particularly breast cancer. "Again, most people don't know that I'm afraid." Professor Murray said most people drink way above the low-risk alcohol limits, adding that even those low-risk limits in Ireland are outdated and far too high. "But if we drank to those low-risk limits, we would drink approximately one-third less alcohol than we consume currently," he said. "So people don't, I would argue, know what the risks are," he added. The Chairperson of Alcohol Action Ireland said "there is a real risk to people that people don't perceive associated with alcohol". "These labels are to do with giving information to citizens and to consumers," he said. Surveys, he said, that "these labels were considered to be relevant and acceptable". Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Murray said he thinks the industry "is driving the agenda". The cost of labels, he said, is very small, adding putting "small labels on bottles is a tiny cost to a highly, highly profitable industry". "The labels actually are small and inexpensive to implement," he added. Professor Murray said every other product that can be purchased in a supermarket "has nutritional information on it and all those other companies have had to do that". He said it is "ridiculous" that there is an exemption for products containing alcohol. He said if you look at the measures to reduce harms from alcohol, "those public health measures are very inexpensive to implement and reap a huge reward in terms of the economic gain for the country". In relation to the cost to the drinks industry, Mr Murray said there is no impact of these labels at all on exports or tariffs. "This is to do with labeling products within our own jurisdiction," he said. He said that many companies already have health warning labels complying with this legislation because companies have been anticipating it being imposed. Professor Murray said: "In terms of delay and why we're so bitterly disappointed the Public Health Alcohol Act was passed in 2018 and it's 2025. "We've already had an inordinate delay. The time to do it, I think is now and I would urge the Taoiseach and I would urge the Cabinet to reconsider, to reconsider and not to delay these labels. It's critically important."
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish woman almost died after mosquito bite while on holiday
A terrifying cautionary tale has been delivered by an Irish woman who almost lost her life after a mosquito bite she suffered while on holiday last year. Sharon Bannerton was enjoying a visit to Dubai when she noticed she had been bitten on her lower leg but the few bites soon turned out to be something much more serious. Sharon explained on Newstalk how she scratched the "three or four bites" around her ankles and drew blood but didn't feel any ill effects immediately afterwards. Feeling healthy and having cleaned up the blood, Sharon decided to head to the swimming pool for a dip. But after a few days, she started to feel unwell and detailed how she was "fluish, cold, tired" and had a "bit of a headache." The day she flew back to Ireland, Sharon had a meal with pals and stayed with one of her friends, which she now believes may have been the decision that avoided tragedy. Sharon's friend, Noel, checked on Sharon the next morning and she was "completely out of it". An emergency dash to hospital discovered that it was more serious than anyone could imagine and it was all related to the mosquito bites. "I was crashing, my organs started to shut down," Sharon explained. "I ended up having a seizure and I was rushed to A&E. "The doctors told me later that if I'd arrived an hour later, I wouldn't have made it. I was one hour away from dying and I actually had sepsis." Dubai Initially, doctors didn't notice the ankle bites but when they discovered them, they identified the bites as the entry points for life-threatening bacteria after they had been scratched open. Sharon said: "By me scratching [the mosquito bite] and drawing blood on it, I opened it up. "Then I allowed bacteria to get into it. "They said, probably from going swimming in a swimming pool with these bites open, I let e-coli or some bacteria into my bloodstream. It was a nightmare." Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised travellers to countries that may have insects which carry serious diseases to look into the risks associated with any area you are going to, check whether you need a vaccine and also to speak to your GP, particularly if you are going to a part of the world where mosquitos are common. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Warning issued to anyone who eats hot dogs or burgers as barbecue season arrives
The hot weather returned to Ireland this week and, as such, many will be planning a barbecue this weekend because so far this summer, the rain has never been too far away. With people stocking up on burgers and hot dogs, a warning has been issued by scientists on the dangers of processed meats. The Express reports that US researchers have released the findings of a new project which saw them review over 70 previous studies, comprising millions of participants. The research examined the link between processed meat and a wide range of illnesses including Type 2 diabetes, cancer and ischemic heart disease. The study found that even the smallest portion of processed meats was the worst addition to a person's diet, even compared to trans fats and sugary drinks. The University of Washington team wrote in their paper: "The monotonic increases in health risk with increased consumption of processed meat suggest that there is not a 'safe' amount of processed meat consumption with respect to diabetes or colorectal cancer risk. "Habitual consumption of even small amounts of processed meat, sugary drinks, and trans fatty acids is linked to increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease and colorectal cancer." The equivalent of one hot dog a day was associated with at least an 11 per cent higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, and a 7 per cent higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to eating no meat at all. Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised to "Avoid processed meat and limit red meat to no more than 3 portions a week to lower your risk of bowel cancer." The research found that even one hot dog a day may be too high, with the authors explaining in Nature that more examination is required but that there is a "merit" to limiting consumption. They wrote: "These associations each received two-star ratings reflecting weak relationships or inconsistent input evidence, highlighting both the need for further research and—given the high burden of these chronic diseases—the merit of continuing to recommend limiting consumption of these foods."
