The 17p Food That Might Increase Breast Cancer Risk by 57% When Consumed Weekly

Enjoying a widely popular breakfast staple at least once a week may elevate the risk of breast cancer, according to a significant study.

Researchers discovered that women who included this food in their daily diet were 57 percent more likely to develop breast cancer compared to those who refrained from it.

Researchers indicate that the popular breakfast item, bacon, can increase breast cancer risk by 57 percent.

A bacon sandwich is a favorite breakfast choice for countless Brits seeking a quick and easy meal.

With a pack of 10 slices of bacon priced at just £1.69 (which equates to 17p per slice), it also provides an affordable morning option.

However, processed meats have been associated with a number of serious health conditions in recent years.

Now, a decade-long study published in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Nutrition has identified the risks associated with consuming processed meats like bacon in relation to breast cancer.

The effect was found to be most pronounced in women under the age of 50.

Scientists believe that sodium nitrate—a preservative commonly found in processed meats—may form cancer-causing compounds within the body.

While processed meats such as bacon and ham were linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, researchers noted that they “didn’t find a significant connection between the disease and the consumption of other types of meat,” such as pork and chicken, which are not treated with nitrates.

A representative for the UK-based Coalition Against Nitrites stated to the Daily Mail: “This is yet another concerning piece of evidence linking nitrite-cured processed meats with cancer.

“British families should not be unknowingly exposed to a substance that scientists claim can produce carcinogens in the body.

“The Government must now acknowledge the growing evidence and take decisive action to eliminate nitrites from our food supply.

Scientists believe sodium nitrate is the primary concern.Credit: Getty

“Safer alternatives are available—there is no reason to continue exposing public health to these risks.”

The study, conducted by researchers at Seoul University, monitored over 71,000 women aged 40 to 69.

This reinforces warnings from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which classifies processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen.

Previous studies have also associated processed meat consumption with an increased risk of breast cancer.

In 2018, a UK Biobank study published in the European Journal of Cancer found that higher consumption of processed meat was linked to a greater risk of breast cancer, particularly among post-menopausal women.

A 2018 meta-analysis in the International Journal of Cancer also supported this connection, reporting a 9 percent increased risk at high consumption levels.

In the UK, over 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.

While genetics plays a role in breast cancer, lifestyle choices such as diet, physical activity, and alcohol consumption are increasingly recognized as significant risk factors, along with being overweight.

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