Research Exonerating Red Meat Consumption Makes Global Health Headlines

Following new research that made a major impact in science, news reports suggested people could continue eating red meat without fear of unhealthy outcomes. How should we interpret these findings?

Numerous studies to date have shown that consuming processed or unprocessed red meat is associated with increased cancer risk, cardiovascular problems and early death.

Based on this and similar evidence, health guidelines have recommended reducing red meat intake as much as possible.

However, on 1 October 2019, Annals of Internal Medicine, a leading medical journal, published an article making worldwide headlines. Its findings suggest red meat may not have as harmful an effect on health as previously thought.

Researchers from the Nutritional Recommendations Consortium (NutriRECS) explained that they needed to reassess existing evidence linking red meat consumption and adverse health outcomes for various reasons.

In 12 randomized controlled studies, reducing meat consumption from seven to three portions weekly showed a statistically significant association with reduced cancer, diabetes or heart disease risk that was absent , they concluded.

This NutriRECS guideline study is based on four systematic reviews considering various data sources and health outcomes, including overall mortality, heart health and cancer.

An American Cancer Society (ACS) spokesperson likened this to saying cycling without a helmet is safe despite proven risk.

According to the dietary guideline developed by a 14-member international consortium, processed and unprocessed red meat consumption by most adults poses very little long-term health risk. The conclusion contradicts US rules recommending only one portion of red and processed meat weekly.

Bradley C. Johnston, professor of epidemiology and community health at Dalhousie University in Halifax, said: "On this basis, we made a weak recommendation that most people do not need to reduce red or processed meat consumption. We cannot say with certainty that eating red or processed meat causes cancer, diabetes or heart disease," he said.

The authors concluded that if it is unclear whether red meat has any level of health effect, insisting that meat-eating adults aged 18 and older give it up when they enjoy it has little benefit.

In conclusion, this study does not fully exonerate "heavy" red or processed meat consumption; nevertheless, it is clear that eating red meat is not as unambiguously harmful as smoking or alcohol.