Sausages, ham and other processed meats are responsible for about one in 30 unnecessarily early deaths in Europe every year, researchers reveal today.
Swiss-based researchers say the processed meats contribute to both heart disease and cancer, warning of cancer-causing chemicals caused by processes such as salting, picking and smoking.
The findings come from a study of some 450,000 people in ten European countries reported in the journal BMC Medicine.
The researchers said people who ate large amounts of processed meat, such as sausages and ham, also tended to have unhealthy lifestyles, eating small amounts of vegetables and fruit.
Even allowing for this, meat on its own contributed to 3% of premature deaths, they report. But there was some evidence a small amount of red meat contributed to good health.
Researcher Professor Sabine Rohrmann, from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, said: "Risks of dying earlier from cancer and cardiovascular disease also increased with the amount of processed meat eaten.
"Overall, we estimate that 3% of premature deaths each year could be prevented if people ate less than 20g processed meat per day."
Tracy Parker, of the British Heart Foundation, said the findings do not mean people should become vegetarians.
She said: "the people who ate the most processed meat in this study also made other unhealthy lifestyle choices. They were found to eat less fruit and vegetables and were more likely to smoke, which may have had an impact on results.
"Red meat can still be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet. Opting for leaner cuts and using healthier cooking methods such as grilling will help to keep your heart healthy. If you eat lots of processed meat, try to vary your diet with other protein choices such as chicken, fish, beans or lentils."
Sabine Rohrmann et al. Meat consumption and mortality – results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. BMC Medicine 7 March 2013
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