A leading Cumbrian farmer has defended red meat after claims it is a cancer risk.

Alistair Mackintosh, a beef and lamb farmer based at Ravenglass who is also a National Farmers’ Union (NFU) delegate, was reacting to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), published yesterday, in which experts said processed meat such as bacon, ham and sausages can cause bowel cancer.

Red meat is also “probably” carcinogenic, with associations mainly with bowel cancer but also with pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.

But Mr Mackintosh said red meat had a lot of health benefits for people, as long as it was eaten in moderation.

“As part of a balanced diet it has got to be good for you,” he said. “Most people who have a balanced diet will recognise the value of red meat.”

He added: “We have always said as farmers that red meat, as part of a balanced diet, is crucial to maintain a healthy body.

“It is a great source of iron, minerals, vitamins and protein.”

The NFU’s national president, Meurig Raymond, said: “We know there is a complex relationship between diet, exercise, nutrition and good health, and the solutions to any diet-related illnesses cannot be polarised or simplistic. The scientific and medical communities both agree that consuming recommended quantities of red meat is beneficial to human health.

“The NFU has always stated that eating lean red meat has an important role to play in a healthy balanced diet.

“It’s a traditional part of the British lifestyle and is enjoyed by most of the population.”


Anita de la Riviere But Anita de la Riviere, who runs the Vegetarian Lakeland Living bed and breakfast on Wordsworth Terrace, Cockermouth, suggested people may now consider adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet.

“It is not restrictive in the slightest. There is just so much to eat in the world that a lot of people don’t eat because they want meat and two veg on their plate.”

Alison Barbuti, a spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK in Cumbria, said: “We’ve known for some time about the probable link between red and processed meat and bowel cancer, which is backed by substantial evidence.

“This decision doesn’t mean you need to stop eating any red and processed meat.

“But if you eat lots of it you may want to think about cutting down. You could try having fish for your dinner rather than sausages, or choosing to have a bean salad for lunch over a BLT.

“Having a healthy diet is all about moderation. Overall, red and processed meat cause fewer cases of cancer in the UK than some other lifestyle factors.”

She added that the biggest risk to people’s health remained smoking.