- The USDA, for example, tried to ban sodium nitrite in the late 1970′s but was overridden by the meat industry.5 It insisted the chemical was safe and accused the USDA of trying to “ban bacon.”
The blog this article was 'retrieved' from has this update: Here are the WCRF recommendations from the report. So processed meat should be avoided. I'm not sure 'too dangerous for human consumption' has the same meaning, but the take home message is basically the same.The World Cancer Research Fund caught wind of our article. Thanks to everyone who has been spreading the word! As they put it, they were “in no way involved in the production of the article.” And they weren’t. We read their review and drew the only logical, possible conclusion. Their official response… “The articles talking about processed meat being ‘too dangerous for human consumption’ are unhelpful and scaremongering.” Yet in the very same online post, they tell you to avoid processed meat because it can cause bowel cancer! We’re sorry. But if a food is directly linked to 4,000 cases of bowel cancer in the UK alone (according to their stats), it is indeed “too dangerous for human consumption.”
Yes, it's like saying cigarettes are 'too dangerous'. It's a bit of a silly conclusion. One shouldn't smoke a pack a day, if one wants to have good health. But if you're smoking here and there, it's probably not that bad, all things considered. I'm sure the same is true with processed meats. Having a hot dog a few times per year at the ballpark or a backyard bbq isn't going to ruin your life. But common sense dictates that you shouldn't eat these foods everyday for a multitude of reasons, not just cancer risk.
There is plenty of evidence that shows that the more plants we consume, the better, but there is no evidence that it has anything to do with 'antioxidants' such as vitamin C or E. The vitamin people have been pushing this for years, but they come up empty every time it's actually studied. In fact, of the few very large studies that have been conducted, supplementing antioxidants has either had no effect, or a cancer promoting effect. Don't let these charlatans fool you.And finally, eat more fresh produce with every meal. There is evidence that natural vitamin C found in citrus fruits and exotic berries (like camu camu) helps prevent the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines, protecting you from the devastating health effects of sodium nitrite in processed meats.
You can't expect much in terms of definitions or science out of blogs like this. They have a belief and opinions and they present things that support that worldview. Even sodium nitrite isn't all bad. Biology is complicated, so don't ever believe anyone who puts things so simply.