Does Eating Red & Processed Meat Really Affect Your Cancer Risk?
How the media is killing us with statistics
On April 17, 2019, meat eaters worldwide were warned again about the risks associated with eating red and processed meat. The Guardian exclaimed that “even moderate intake of red meat raises cancer risk.” CNN shouted that “eating just one slice of bacon a day [is] linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer.” And The Telegraph warned that “eating red meat just once a day increases bowel cancer risk by a fifth.” Everyone was so quick to get on board with this story, so eager to send shock waves through the mass media, that no one took the time to point out just how unsurprising and inconclusive this story really is.
If you’re like me and you eat a “dangerously” moderate amount of meat throughout the week, you’re probably wondering how badly the odds are stacked up against you. As a scientist, I usually take whatever I read from a news outlet with a pinch of salt. I try to put sensationalized stories in perspective, not giving them too much thought until I can access the original source. This story, however, really caught my eye because I wanted to know the true extent to which I was rolling the dice with my life.
Statistics are powerful because they can be incredibly deceptive. And when reputable news outlets are…
