It is important to eat a balanced, healthy diet.
Experts now warn that one food type is to blame in the increase in cases of diabetes and cancer.
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According to the NHS guidelines, adults should limit their intake of red and processed meats to 70g per day.
Official guidance states that red meat – such as beef, lamb and pork – is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals, and can form part of a balanced diet.
Write in BMJ Global HealthExperts have revealed that the number of deaths from red and processed meat has increased by 75% in certain countries.
In the last 20 years, many countries have seen an increase of their consumptions of red and processed beef.
The study examined the number of deaths and years lost to disability (DALYs), that could be attributed to diet among people over 25 in each country.
Experts reviewed data for 154 nations from 1993 to 2018, looking at 14 red meat items.
They all came from beef, lamb, goat and pork. Six processed primarily beef items were also used.
Experts found that the number of diet-related deaths due to the global meat trade increased in three quarters (154) countries between 1993-5, 2016-18 and 2016.
Comparing the uptick in demand in each country with the deaths, the experts found that this accounted for 10,898 attributable deaths in 2016–18, an increase of nearly 75 per cent on the figures for 1993-5.
In 2016–2018, the top 10 countries where attributable deaths were most linked to meat consumption included, The Netherlands, Bahamas, Tonga, Denmark, Antigua and Barbuda, Seychelles, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Croatia and Greece.
These deaths were more than 7 percentage points of all deaths that could be attributed to diets in these countries.
It is important to mention that the observational study did not establish a cause.
Researchers acknowledged that many countries import these goods to export them again, which they claimed skews their findings.
The experts said: “This study shows that global increases in red and processed meat trade contribute to the abrupt increase of diet-related [non-communicable diseases].
“Future interventions need to urgently integrate health policies with agricultural and trade policies by cooperating between responsible exporting and importing countries.”
It was previously shown that eating more meat than 25g per day can cause health problems. ‘increase risk of bowel cancer’.
Experts also found that just one sausage or 3 bacon rashers a day ‘increases killer heart disease risk by 20 per cent.
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