Processed meats such as bacon and ham do cause cancer, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Its report said 50g of processed meat a day increased the chance of developing colorectal cancer by 18%.
The classification, outlined by the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), sees processed meats termed "carcinogenic to humans," the highest of five possible rankings shared with alcohol, asbestos, arsenic and cigarettes.
The conclusions are based on the work of a 22-member panel of international experts, which reviewed decades of research on the link between processed meats, red meat, and cancer.
"For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal [bowel] cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but this risk increases with the amount of meat consumed," Dr Kurt Straif from the WHO said.
It also said red meats were "probably carcinogenic," and are linked to pancreatic and prostate cancer.
And not the foods have been upgraded as Carcinogen Type 1, means they are DEFINITE carcinogen on par with arsenic and certain microorganisms for cancer cause
