MEDIA ADVISORY: International Panel Ranks Carcinogenic Level of Red and Processed Meats; USC Researcher From the Panel Available to Comment

Specialists from 10 nations collaborated to determine just how much the meats increase cancer risk

Contact: Zen Vuong at (213) 300-1381 or zvuong@usc.edu

WHAT: The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer will release a report Monday that could have major repercussions for the meat industry. Mariana Stern of USC, who served on the panel of 22 experts, is available to comment.

Specialists on toxicology, epidemiology, basic animal research and mechanisms examined more than 800 scientific studies on red and processed meats. They classified meats on a scale of one to four, with one being the most carcinogenic based on strong evidence.

The report could have significant consequences for the meat industry and may affect how meats are labeled. Already, the World Cancer Research Fund International and the American Cancer Society have advised people to limit their red meat consumption because of its possible negative health effects.

A summary of the report will be published in The Lancet Oncology on Monday.

WHO: Mariana C. Stern of the Keck School of Medicine of USC helped create the report.

Stern is an associate professor of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics and director of the Graduate Programs in Molecular Epidemiology at Keck Medicine of USC.

Interviews with Stern can be arranged through Zen Vuong of USC University Media Relations.

WHEN: A news release of the Oct. 6-13 evaluation in Lyon, France, will be announced at noon Monday in Paris (3 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time).