Is cooked ham carcinogenic? The scientific truth has been known since 2015: here’s what the WHO says, what the real risks are and how to reduce them
For a few days the web has been raising alarmism about cooked ham “classified as carcinogenic”. They pass it off as something new, but there is nothing new in all this: the classification dates back to 2015. That’s when the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), organism of the WHOhas included processed red meat among the potentially carcinogenic substances for humans. It is therefore not a recent discovery, but a now consolidated scientific truth.
The truth about cooked ham
After analyzing over 800 epidemiological studies, a group of 22 international experts established that processed meats – cured meats, cold cuts, sausages, smoked meats or meats treated with preservatives – they fall into group 1 of certain carcinogens. This means that there is sufficient evidence of a link with colorectal cancer and, to some extent, with stomach cancer. Unprocessed red meathowever, was placed in group 2A, among the “probable carcinogens”.
The risk exists, but it depends on the quantities
As experts point out, the danger does not lie in the individual food but in the frequency and doses. Every 50 grams per day of processed meat increases the risk of colon cancer by 18%, while 100 grams of red meat increases it by 17%. However, these percentages must be put into context: for smoking, the risk rises by over 400%. The guidelines recommend not exceeding 500 grams of red meat and 50 grams of cured meats per week.
Lifestyles: the real deciding factor
According to oncologists, one in three cancers could be avoided by changing habits: less smoking and alcohol, more physical activity, Mediterranean diet, more vegetables and whole grains. Cooking also matters: grilling and frying increase harmful substances, while more delicate methods reduce risks.
There are no “poison” or “miracle” foods. The difference is balance and awareness. The problem is not a slice of ham, but an unbalanced diet over time. So, if you want to eat a slice of ham – raw or cooked -, eat it without fear, but in moderation.
