Intake of Processed Meats Not Falling, Despite Evidence of Health Risks

Accumulating evidence links excessive consumption of processed meats with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers. A study by Tufts researchers recently published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics indicates that people in the U.S. are not heeding expert warnings about these foods.

The analysis looked at reported dietary intake of nearly 44,000 U.S. adults aged 20 years or older over an 18-year period (1999-2016). They found no change in the mean consumption of processed meat.

The top five processed meats consumed by U.S. adults in 2015-2016 were luncheon (deli) meats, sausage, hot dogs, ham, and bacon. Stores and fast-food restaurants are primary purchase locations for processed meats. During the same period, the mean consumption of unprocessed red meat declined, and intake of poultry increased. The mean consumption of fish/shellfish did not change.

Luncheon meats such as sliced turkey, ham, and salami accounted for 39.3 percent of the total processed meat consumed in the United States, and sausage 24.4 percent. Replacing deli-meat sandwiches with lunch alternatives like soups and green-, bean-, or grain-based salads and skipping breakfast sides like sausage, ham, and bacon, would go a long way toward reducing processed meat consumption—and potentially improving health.