Eating burgers and hot dogs increases a woman's risk of breast cancer - study

Burgers may increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, new Harvard research suggests.

Processed meat has long been linked to other cancers of the pancreas, prostate and bowels, but this study is the first to show a link with tumors that start in the breast.

Women who consumed the most processed meat were nine percent more likely to develop the disease, according to a meta-analysis of data from 28 previous studies.

They found no elevated risk for those who ate unprocessed red meat such as beef, lamb, pork, veal, goat and mutton.

The World Cancer Research Fund recommends cutting out red meat altogether, but the NHS says that those who cannot should try to stick to a limit of 70g a day (the equivalent of half a burger or one sausage). The US does not recommend a specific limit.  

Processed meat, such as bacon and hot dogs, is listed as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer - a branch of the WHO. The same agency also says red meat is probably carcinogenic

The amount of processed meat in the American diet has dropped in recent years, but millions still easily exceed the proposed 70g limit.

This new research by Harvard offers another reason for women to keep cutting it out: it could impact their cancer risk.

The increased risk is modest at nine percent, but the researchers say any increase is significant.  

Processed meat is meat that has been salted, cured, fermented, smoked or blended to make sausages, hot dogs, salami, bacon, ham and corned beef. 

Scientists pooled data from 28 previous studies and found those who ate more than this were more prone to breast cancer.

Processed meats have previously been linked to fueling bowel, prostate and pancreatic tumors.

Lead author Dr Maryam Farvid, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said:

Previous works linked increased risk of some types of cancer to higher processed meat intake.

This recent meta-analysis suggests that processed meat consumption may also increase breast cancer risk.

Processed meats have previously been linked to fuelling bowel, prostate and pancreatic tumors. This is the first to show a link with breast cancer