And there’s plenty of research to back up the connection.
Reviewed by Dietitian Casey Wing, RD, CD
Key Points
- Nearly 40% of people don’t know processed meats like bacon and sausage raise colorectal cancer risk.
- Only one-third of adults learn about nutrition risks like this from health care professionals.
- Two-thirds of adults support adding cancer warning labels to processed meat after learning the risks.
A new poll reveals a surprising gap in what we know about the food on our plates. According to recent data, four in 10 people are completely unaware of the connection between processed meat and colorectal cancer. The food in question includes familiar staples like bacon, hot dogs, sausage and deli meats.
The poll, conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)—a nonprofit known for its focus on preventive health and advocacy of plant-based diets—set out to understand how much the public actually knows about the health risks associated with these everyday items. The findings show that while some people are highly informed about nutrition, a large portion of the population may lack access to this health information.
What Did the Poll Reveal?
The survey highlights a significant divide in public health awareness. Just over half of adults know that eating processed meat increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer. That leaves a massive portion of the population in the dark about a well-documented health risk.
The data show a clear demographic split in who receives this vital information. Older adults, people with higher household incomes and those with college degrees are much more likely to know about the risks associated with processed meats, per this survey. Meanwhile, younger adults, individuals with lower incomes and those without a college degree are less aware.
When it comes to where we learn about nutrition, the sources vary wildly. About 60% of adults recall receiving some information on the link between nutrition and colorectal cancer. However, only a third of adults received this guidance directly from a health care professional. The rest rely on social media, friends, family or online news articles, which can sometimes provide mixed or confusing messages.
Interestingly, the poll also found that half of adults know that exercising and increasing fiber consumption can actually reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
What to Know About Processed Meat and Cancer Risk
You might wonder how a hot dog or a few slices of deli turkey actually affect your colon. The World Health Organization classifies processed meats as a Group 1 carcinogen, putting them in the same hazard category as tobacco and asbestos. It is important to remember that this classification means there is strong scientific evidence that the substance causes cancer, not that eating a hot dog is exactly as dangerous as smoking a cigarette.
The risk comes down to how the meat is prepared. When meat is processed by curing, smoking or adding chemical preservatives like nitrates and nitrites, it forms new compounds called N-nitroso chemicals. As these compounds travel through your digestive system, they can damage the cells lining your bowel. Over time, this cellular damage can lead to mutations, increasing the chance of cancer developing in the colon or rectum.
A Push for Clearer Labels
Once people learn about the risks, their perspective shifts quickly. The poll found that after being informed that processed meat increases colorectal cancer risk, two-thirds of adults support adding cancer warning labels to these products.
Support for these labels remains high across almost all demographics. The authors of the report share that people want to know what they are putting into their bodies, and warning labels may offer a direct way to bypass the current information bottleneck.
Our Expert Take
The goal of sharing this data is not to push restrictive diets or shame anyone for eating a sandwich. Instead, this is about making sure you have the facts. Clearer education from healthcare professionals and transparent labeling on packaging can help bridge the current divide. When we have the right information, we can make informed, empowered choices for our own health and well-being, particularly when it comes to reducing the risk of colon cancer.
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