California Planning To Add Red Meat To Cancer-Alert List

Considering the study findings recently put forward by the World Health Organization (WHO), California has decided to consider adding red meat and other processed-food, including bacon, sausages and hot dogs to cancer-alert list.

If red meat is added to the cancer-alert risk, it will allow consumers to file a lawsuit against the meat company if he or she is diagnosed with a certain type of disease. The state officials say that the step might leave a big impact on major meat producers and processors within the U.S., including JBS USA and Hormel Foods Corp.

Different laws passed earlier show that California has been one of the most active U.S. states when it comes to consumer-driven decisions and initiatives. In the past, it has already passed laws for restrictions on use of antibiotics for livestock and use of larger chicken cages. It was one of the first states to pass such laws, much ahead of the rest of the country.

The news of California thinking to put red meat on cancer-alert risk seems to have put the meat industry on their toes. Although WHO said that the risk of bowel and rectal cancer increase with increase in the amount of meat consumed, the meat industry emphasizes that all its products are completely safe to be consumed as a part of the daily diet.

Although no announcement has been made by the Californian government so far and the idea is still in the pipeline, the meat industry is adamant that it will not put any kind of warning label over its meat products, including packages of hot dogs and bacons.