2 weeks ago

After Bengaluru Meat Raids, Experts Say Spoiled Meat Isn't Cancerous

After Bengaluru Meat Raids, Experts Say Spoiled Meat Isn't Cancerous
Can eating stale meat cause cancer? What oncologists say after Bengaluru raids · firstpost.com

People in the Indian city of Bengaluru got worried after health officials found old, smelly meat in some restaurants.

Many people wondered if eating bad meat could give you cancer.

Doctors who treat cancer say eating spoiled meat mostly makes you sick right away with food poisoning, not with cancer.

Cancer usually comes from what you eat day after day over many years.

Eating hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats very often can raise your chance of getting colon cancer.

Red meat, like beef, may also raise the risk if you eat a lot of it regularly.

Cooking meat at very high heat, like grilling or frying, can create chemicals that might be harmful, but scientists are not totally sure yet.

If meat looks, smells, or feels wrong, the doctors say to throw it away.

One bad meal will not cause cancer, because cancer takes a long time to grow.

The best idea is to store meat safely and eat processed and red meat only once in a while.

Key facts

Location
Bengaluru, India
Trigger
Raids finding rotten, expired and unrefrigerated meat at restaurants and hotels
Processed meat classification
Group 1 - carcinogenic to humans (IARC)
Red meat classification
Group 2A - probably carcinogenic to humans (IARC)
Associated colorectal cancer risk
Approximately 18% higher with 50g of processed meat daily
Main risk of spoiled meat
Food poisoning and intestinal problems from bacteria
Cooking compounds of concern
Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Expert advice
Discard any meat with abnormal smell, colour or consistency

Quotes

Dr Hemkant Verma

Senior Consultant & Unit Head, Surgical Oncology, ShardaCare‑Healthcity

“"Subjecting decaying animal proteins to high heat generates heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chemical compounds known to damage DNA in the stomach and colon lining."”
firstpost.com
“"Eating spoiled or not properly conserved meat is not cancerous by itself. Spoiled meat is much a bigger problem because the bacteria which might have multiplied could make you really ill."”
firstpost.com

Sources

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