The World Health Organization (WHO) says eating processed meat can lead to cancer, and red meat could also likely be carcinogenic.

But the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA) says the risk is very small.

Mark Klassen, CCA's director of technical services, says under some circumstances processed meat can be a cancer hazard, but it's important to understand the WHO's data.

"We need to introduce two terms: cancer hazard and cancer risk," he says. "The WHO was focused on cancer hazards, and these are identifying things that under some circumstances might cause cancer, and they've said that for processed red meat. The second parameter is cancer risk, and that is the probability that you will get cancer from a particular cancer hazard."

The WHO classified processed meat as a Group One carcinogen according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer's classifications, putting it in the same category as tobacco smoking and asbestos — but that does not mean they are equally dangerous. This classification means there is the same strength of evidence about processed meat, tobacco, and asbestos. But a pack of bacon is not the same as a pack of cigarettes: the risk is based on consumption, and it would take a lot of ham, sausage, and hot dogs to reach the same risk level as smoking.

According to the WHO's analysis of data from 10 studies, they estimate that every 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by about 18 per cent.

Although the WHO says evidence is limited on red meat specifically, some studies suggest the risk of colorectal cancer could increase by 17 per cent for every 100 gram portion of red meat eaten daily. Klassen says the average Canadian only consumes about 50 grams of red meat per day.

"At the end of the day, the increase is very small," he says, "and I think that's the key message here. Under some circumstances, processed meat can be a cancer hazard, but the risk is very small, especially for the average Canadian."

Klassen also notes red meat is a good source of iron. He says like any food, it's important to have a balance diet, as recommended by Canada's Food Guide.