Adults: Processed meat consumption

Definition

Proportion of the population age 15 years and older who consumed processed meat during the previous day or night.

Relevance

Processed meats typically are calorie dense, high in sodium and saturated fat, and contain nitrates or chemical preservatives and thus should be limited. The WHO IARC classifies processed meats as a class 1 carcinogen, being known to cause cancer. Excessive conusumption may increase the risk of diet-related noncommunicable diseases.