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Chairman Conaway responds to claims inadequately linking red meat and cancer

Washington, October 26, 2015
Washington, D.C. - Continuing the Agriculture Committee’s oversight of the development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Chairman K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) today released the following statement in response to the latest claim by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifying processed meat as carcinogenic and red meat as a probable carcinogen. IARC’s allegation is derived from a selective review of studies chosen to support a predetermined conclusion and comes despite its own admission that numerous studies show no correlation between red and processed meats and cancer.

“These claims are based on a biased selection of studies performed by an organization notorious for distorting and misconstruing data to link even the most innocuous products—everything from glass jars to baby powder— to this terrible disease. So, unfortunately, I was not surprised by today’s announcement. It is disappointing that the tax dollars of hard-working Americans are being used to support the activist agenda of this international agency. As USDA and HHS continue their development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, it is my hope that their final guidelines continue to promote a balanced diet with beneficial nutrients derived from a wide variety of safe and wholesome agricultural products.”