To not have known that deli chicken is a level 1 carcinogen

[nevertearusapart]

Am feeling fairly stupid about this but only just realised that deli chicken / turkey are considered level 1 carcinogenic processed meats so linked to negative health effects incl. cancer. The examples used are typically ham, sausages, bacon, salami etc so I just assumed red meat for some reason. The deli chicken that we eat was labelled 100% natural and only contained chicken, potato starch, salt and vinegar but it now looks like it’s almost bad as the rest.
Does everyone know things like this and what do people put in kids lunches? (And yes I know it’s all about daily / excessive consumption etc etc)

😀always a silver lining

Deli chicken from the supermarket is grim. The packaged one smells like farts!
Tinned tuna or just cook a chicken or breast the night before. But I honestly don't care if bacon and salami are carcinogenic because they're too tasty!

And fortunately this is mumsnet so if you cook one or two whole chickens just for sandwiches it will last for about 6 months.

@FumingTRex I know! Maybe the red meats are used as an example as it’s a double whammy?

A note: that ranking refers to the strength of evidence for the hazard, but does not include risk.

So there is lots of evidence for processed meats increasing this risk of, say, colorectal cancer, but that does not have the same level of risk as smoking does of causing lung cancer.

Asbestos and deli chicken are both level 1 carcinogens but I know who which I'd prefer in a sandwich

I used to have meat deli as a child, but now we don’t buy them for the above reasons, but it really helps that my kids don’t like them either.

@HeyMicky that’s a great thing to remember … ranking refers to the strength of evidence for the hazard, but does not include risk. Thank you.

That's good to know.

The problem is many people need simpler messaging than that, as shown on this thread. It's a dunning kruger issue.

There is really no need to remove all processed meat from one's diet. Having an over-restricted diet has its own proven issues.

Eat a large variety of foods, lots of vegetables, meats and starchy staples high in fibre, don't overthink it too much, and you can't go far wrong.

What is deli chicken?

Does it say how much you need to eat?

I buy parma ham, it’s a thin slice of meat without nitrates. About 20g of meat with salt. I buy chorizo without nitrates - M&S sell one variety and Waitrose sell two. Both sell bacon without nitrates.

I live a city, am sure every breath I take is full of all sorts of shit. I don’t get enough sleep as I don’t go to bed as early as I should and I know that’s bad for me too.

Definitely agree with this. Everything in moderation, including treats. Nothing in excess - even things like water are harmful if you drink too much. OTOH, restrictions can make things more tempting... I know if I didn't have the occasional Dorito or chocolate pudding and eliminated them completely, if I got the chance to indulge, it would be deadly lol 😆 😅

The Mediterranean diet is said to be an excellent one to follow if you need a diet as such. 👍😎

I think it is those small packs of chicken breast you can get from the deli counter, M&S do them on the 3 for £8, I often buy them but I'm old so past caring

“Level 1 carcinogen”? Is that like DefCon 5? Or 9 on the Richter scale?

I’m sorry, but I can’t get excited about the risks of ham and chicken. It’s just food. To be enjoyed.

Marmite sandwiches - food of heaven.

What's 'deli' chicken?

It’s chicken, from the deli counter (shortened from delicatessen). So sliced chicken prepared in the shop as opposed to a sliced home chicken breast.

Why do you think loads of young people are getting colon cancer.
If you didn't know this then it's time to educate yourself!
Watch 'what the health' if you want your mind blown!

I am stunned. I often buy packs of sliced chicken breast. I chop them into curry just before serving (so can have vegetarian curry or chicken) and my DD likes them in sandwiches. I never looked ar the ingredients as I just thought .... chicken breast. I've just checked now and I'm appalled. Thank you OP.

You would be roasted alive and served up as an carcinogenic processed meat if you took any nut product into my kids schools by the staff.

I was almost publicly burnt at the stake for given the kids a chocolate product in that said "may contain traces of nuts due to other foodstuffs in the factory".

@Goinggreymammy my mantra these days is ‘I can only fix and move forward’. On repeat.

I was vegetarian from age 11 and diagnosed with cancer in my early 30s with no family history. It’s a lottery.

I was under the impression that processed meats were bad because of the additives and nitrates/ nitrates. Do I have that wrong? I would have thought that chicken is fine too.

Thats what I thought, obviously I was wrong. Is there any food that isn’t bad in some form though?

Why do you think loads of young people are getting colon cancer.
If you didn't know this then it's time to educate yourself!

Well the doctors don’t seem to know why but it’s great you have the answer!

I read a recent survey that said out of the people surveyed, 1/3 (I think - could have been even higher) hadn’t eaten a green vegetable in three weeks and the only pulses they had eaten (basically ever) were baked beans.
I think when we’re stressing about diets, these are the people that need to make the changes, not people who are eating the occasional slice of prepackaged chicken.

I try to avoid UPFs but it’s so difficult if you include all sauces, and basically anything that comes from a packet. Even when I make a stir fry with chicken and fresh veg, I use the micro rice as it’s so much quicker and doesn’t clump together. My roast dinner tonight has packet gravy and pre made yorkshires.

Probably all the oat milk and kale they are eating. Foods of the devil.