Red Meat Causes Cancer
Mishael Appling
Summary
In the article according to the World Health Organization (WHO), they state that processed meats such as ham, bacon, and hot dogs cause cancer. When stating this they also added that other red meats such as beef, pork, and lamb also causes cancer as well.
They backed these statements from the studies and research that was conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). According to the report it classified processed meat as a carcinogen to humans on the basis that it can cause colorectal cancer. Processed meats in the report are classified as meat that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or any other methods to enhance flavor or for preservation. It also states in the report that consumption of red meat was also positively associated with pancreatic and prostate cancer. It clearly defines what's classified as a red meat in the report as unprocessed mammalian muscle meat such as beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse, goat meat, as well as minced or frozen meat as well. It has also been stated that red meat has been linked to other cancers such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.
Critique
The article was well written as far grammatically correct and had clear concise points throughout the article. The article used a lot of word for word quotes from the report it based a lot of its information off of regarding clear statements that processed meats and red meats cause cancer.
As far as sources, there were many reputable organizations such as American Cancer Society and the World Health Organization that were used in the article to back up a lot of the information that was presented throughout the article. The issue with some of the sources especially the actual report from the IARC wasn't easily accessible in the link in the article as well the sources didn't give any clear scientific reasoning of why their research can conclude that red meat and processed meats cause cancer. Basically the whole article was made off of "ground breaking" statements so to speak. Like when they made statements regarding processed meat stating instead of it may cause cancer it stated it can cause colorectal cancer. When you make strong statements like that it gives the reader the impression that if they eat red meat it will cause cancer instead of if eaten in moderation you will be ok but if excessive red meat diet it can increase the chances of colorectal cancer.
There would need to be sources from a scientific source such as the CDC that can list what are the causes of cancer and scientific and structural backing of how what you eat actually affects the body to make it more prevalent to cause cancer.