Understanding the warning
Yun Wuxin, who has a doctorate in food engineering and is a member of Science Squirrels, an organization for Beijing-based science writers, told the Urban Express on October 25, that carcinogenic substances are grouped and defined according to the abundance of evidence to prove that a certain substance is risky in causing cancer, rather than its level of danger and toxicity.
Yun said Group 1 carcinogenic substances, which are viewed as the most dangerous, means that there is enough evidence to support findings that they are capable of increasing the risk of cancer. It does not mean that they have a super ability and probability of causing cancer. Red meat and processed meat thus belong in Group 2A, which means they are "probably carcinogenic to humans."
The Urban Express report also pointed out that there are many other cancer triggers which the WHO has warned about, like alcohol, tobacco, and areca nut, which all belong to Group 1.
Fang said people need not quit eating meat, but rather it is advised that people take in less than 500 grams of red meat per week, and cut down their consumption of processed meat.
Eating meat healthily
Song said another recent report that frightened her was about a 19-year-old girl who was diagnosed with stomach cancer, allegedly due to her frequent eating of barbecued meat.
"I don't know whether the report is real, but I have turned down two invitations from my friends asking me to eat skewers," said Song. "Eating skewers has become a culture in Beijing and one can easily find a restaurant selling them in a random street. They are delicious, and the fun in our lives will decrease if we quit eating skewers."
According to a report by the People's Daily website in June last year, Ouyang Xuenong, director of the Oncology Department at Fuzhou General Hospital of the Nanjing Military Command, said there is some nutritious value in roasted and barbecued foods. Many of the foods contain microelements and vitamins, and some contain sex hormones and adrenocortical hormones. So while people can benefit from these foods, overeating could be harmful.
Ouyang advises that people only eat roasted and barbecued foods like skewers once a month, and the intake should not exceed 50 grams. "Never eat meat that is burned black or dry," warned Ouyang. "The burned part contains the most volume of cancer-causing substance."
In regular daily life when eating homemade red meat, Ouyang also has advice to give. "People should opt for better cooking methods such as steaming and boiling. The oil should also not be too hot when cooking."
Hu Xingchun, Executive Chef at Suning Universal Hotel in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province told Urban Express that in terms of bacon and preserved meat, people can boil them in hot water, and then choose to steam them.
"Bacon and processed meat are popular dishes in China, and it is impossible to abandon eating them," said Hu. "Another way to healthily eat these foods is to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables with it."
Song said she would not mind quitting meat altogether and become a vegetarian, but she would rather try to cut down the daily intake of red meat and processed meat.
"I will replace the beef jerky with healthier snacks such as fresh fruits, and eat less skewers," said Song. "But I can not live without meat, it's one of the biggest joys of my life."
Common carcinogenic agents
The carcinogenic agents listed by the IARC are substances that the ordinary person has access to in their daily lives, and there is evidence or suspicion that these substances could cause cancer. Listed are some examples in each category.
Group 1 Carcinogenic to humans (118 agents)
Wood dust, tobacco smoking and second-hand smoking, salted fish (Chinese-style), processed meat, outdoor air pollution, untreated or mildly treated Hepatitis B virus (chronic infection).
Group 2A Probably carcinogenic to humans (75 agents)
Consumption of red meat, shift work that involves circadian disruption, frying and emissions from high temperatures.
Group 2B Possibly carcinogenic to humans (288 agents)
Welding fumes, printing processes (occupational exposure), lead, dry cleaning (occupational exposure).
Group 3 Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (503 agents)
Sudan Red 7B, rock (stone) wool, pulp and paper manufacture.
Group 4 Probably not carcinogenic to humans (1 agent)
Caprolactam
