Ultra-Processed Foods , Cancer Risk, and Prevention Insights from Official Classification – InfoCons Consumer Protection Informs You !
The relationship between food consumption and cancer risk has been extensively evaluated by international scientific authorities. One of the most frequently cited classifications comes from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency operating under the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Role of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
IARC is a specialized intergovernmental agency responsible for studying the causes of cancer. According to IARC, carcinogens are substances or exposures that can cause cancer or increase the incidence of malignant tumors. Substances that induce benign tumors under certain conditions may also be considered carcinogenic.
The IARC Monographs Programme evaluates carcinogenic risks and maintains a reference list of more than 1,000 agents. This list is continuously reviewed and updated as new scientific evidence becomes available.
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How IARC Evaluates and Classifies Carcinogens
IARC classifies carcinogens based on:
- Evidence of carcinogenicity in humans (epidemiological studies and case reports)
- Evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals
- Mechanistic and biological evidence
In 2019, IARC simplified its classification system into four groups:
- Group 1
- Group 2A
- Group 2B
- Group 3
This classification reflects the strength of scientific evidence, not the level of risk.
IARC Classification Groups Explained
- Group 1 – Carcinogenic to humans
- Group 2A – Probably carcinogenic to humans
- Group 2B – Possibly carcinogenic to humans
- Group 3 – Not classifiable due to insufficient evidence
This classification reflects the strength of scientific evidence, not the level of danger or the size of the risk.
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IARC Group 1 – Carcinogenic to Humans: Definition and Criteria
Classification criteria:
- Sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans
- Strong mechanistic evidence combined with sufficient evidence from experimental animals
Agents in Group 1 are those for which there is convincing evidence that they cause cancer in humans.
Complete List of IARC Group 1 Carcinogenic Agents
Biological agents and infections
- Clonorchis sinensis (infection with)
- Helicobacter pylori (infection with)
- Opisthorchis viverrini (infection with)
- Schistosoma haematobium (infection with)
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Hepatitis B virus (chronic infection with)
- Hepatitis C virus (chronic infection with)
- Hepatitis D virus (HDV)
- Human immunodeficiency virus type 1
- Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59
- Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus
- Merkel cell polyomavirus
Lifestyle and occupational exposures
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tobacco smoking
- Tobacco smoke, secondhand
- Smokeless tobacco
- Firefighter (occupational exposure as a)
- Painter (occupational exposure as a)
- Rubber manufacturing industry
- Iron and steel founding
- Aluminium production
- Coal gasification
- Coke production
- Coal-tar distillation
- Coal-tar pitch
- Acheson process
- Automotive gasoline
- Diesel engine exhaust
- Welding fumes
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Foods
- Processed meat (consumption of)
- Salted fish, Chinese-style
- Betel quid (with or without tobacco)
- Areca nut
Physical agents
- Ionizing radiation (all types)
- X- and gamma-radiation
- Neutron radiation
- Radon-222 and its decay products
- Solar radiation
- Ultraviolet radiation (UVA, UVB, UVC)
- Ultraviolet-emitting tanning devices
Chemical agents and mixtures
- Asbestos (all forms)
- Benzene
- Formaldehyde
- Arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds
- Cadmium and cadmium compounds
- Chromium (VI) compounds
- Nickel compounds
- Vinyl chloride
- Ethylene oxide
- Trichloroethylene
- Benzo[a]pyrene
- Aflatoxins
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin
- Aristolochic acid
- Lindane
- Sulfur mustard
- Plutonium
- Thorium-232 and its decay products
- Uranium (mixture of isotopes)
- Radium-224, 226, 228 and decay products
- Silica dust, crystalline
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Why Was Processed Meat Classified as Group 1?
Processed meat was classified as carcinogenic to humans based on sufficient evidence from epidemiological studies demonstrating that its consumption causes colorectal cancer.
Does Group 1 Mean the Same Level of Risk as Other Carcinogens?
No. Inclusion in Group 1 indicates that there is strong scientific evidence that an agent causes cancer. It does not mean that all Group 1 agents carry the same level of risk.
What Types of Cancer Are Associated with Eating Processed Meat?
The IARC Working Group concluded that eating processed meat causes colorectal cancer. An association with stomach cancer was also observed, although the evidence is not considered conclusive.
How Many Cancer Cases Are Attributed to Processed Meat Consumption?
According to the Global Burden of Disease Project, approximately 34,000 cancer deaths per year worldwide are attributable to diets high in processed meat.
How Is the Cancer Risk Quantified?
An analysis of data from multiple studies estimated that every 50 grams of processed meat consumed daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by about 18%. In these studies, risk increased with higher levels of consumption.
Therefore, processed meat is classified by IARC as carcinogenic to humans based on strong and consistent scientific evidence. This classification aims to inform public understanding of cancer causation by clearly presenting the level of evidence, without ranking the severity of risk among carcinogens.
Source : World Health Organization
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