Government: Eat less red meat

Government advisers are to publish a report recommending people limit their consumption of red meat.

Experts from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition are expected to tell consumers to eat no more than 500g of red or processed meat every week, or 70g a day.

This is the equivalent of three rashers of bacon a day. An average slice of ham is about 23g, a large sausage is 40g and a medium steak is about 145g.

Red meat contains substances that have been linked to bowel cancer.

One compound in particular, haem, which gives red meat its colour, has been shown to damage the lining of the colon in some studies.

Two rashers of bacon a day throughout life has been linked to a 20 per cent rise in the chance of getting the bowel cancer.