Last week the World Health Organisation published a damning report linking processed meats with colorectal cancer. Bacon, ham, sausages and other cured or salted products are now 'Group 1' products with the highest likelihood to cause cancer.

In a few words, this means that our breakfast banger is now classified with other items such as tobacco, alcohol, asbestos and radioactive materials like uranium. 

May I please ask one simple question?  Is there anything else that does not cause cancer? Even some vegetables are suspect.  Are we born to LIVE or to EXIST?

If the entire global population could heed the WHO's advice and be persuaded to cut its intake of a range of such meats, many of us would simply still at the breakfast table staring at an empty plate!  The whole problem is that this information is absolutely meaningless to the consumers it is supposed to help and protect.

I have been suffering from high blood pressure since my teens but I never gave up bacon and sausages, even when I was repeatedly told that the salt content in these products would hasten my death by boosting hypertension to the point off apoplexy. 

I am the same kind of person who ignored and who continues to ignore the fact that smoked products have long been acknowledged as carcinogens.

So why all this hysterical coverage? Eating patterns will not change, because there is no clear message about the direct impact on the people who enjoy sinking their teeth into a delicious full English breakfast every now and again.

Edmond Zarb

Birkirkara