The revelations of the World Health Organization on the increased risks of having cancer for heavy consumers of cold cuts and red meat, Monday, October 26, did not please everyone. Meat processors criticized the study, and hashtags #JeSuisBacon and #FreeBacon (“Free the bacon”) were among the most used on Twitter on Monday and Tuesday. In France, Stéphane Le Foll called on meat lovers not to give in to “the panic” : “We can and we must eat meat, in a reasonable way”, said the Minister of Agriculture. But in some countries, politicians have taken the opportunity to praise the merits of their local industries.
Bolivia offers to eat llama
Faced with warnings about red meat, the Bolivian Ministry of Health offers a local alternative: “We have good meat like the llama”, explained a person in charge, Tuesday. Bolivia has promoted a meat “which contains a low level of fat”even if it reminds us that it is better, like all meats, to consume it in moderation.
Better known for its wool, the llama has also been used for a long time in Latin American gastronomy, and is gaining popularity in restaurants. The only problem: for the WHO, llama meat is “probably carcinogenic” too. The UN organization defines red meat as “any meat derived from the muscle tissue of mammals”. The llama is not included in the WHO list, but it is indeed a mammal.
Austria says its love of charcuterie
“WHO warning is a farce”ruled the Austrian Minister of Agriculture on Tuesday, deeming it too anxiety-provoking to “place the ham on the same plane as the asbestos”. It must be said that his country is the second largest consumer of red meat in the European Union, behind the German neighbor.
To reassure his constituents, Andrä Rupprechter took a picture of himself, all smiles, with an impressive plate of charcuterie. He then posted the image on Facebook, concluding with this somewhat chauvinistic message: “There is no doubt for me: Austrian sausage is and remains the best. ;)”
Germany reassures its barbecue lovers
If he probably does not agree on the superiority of the Austrian sausage, the German Minister of Food, Christian Schmidt, has also sought to reassure citizens who love charcuterie. “Nobody should be afraid when they eat a grilled sausage!”, he launched on Tuesday. Grilling your sausage could be even worse for your health, according to the WHO, which finds that grilling or frying seems to produce higher amounts of certain carcinogens.
