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Cancer and Processed Meat: What to Know About the Link

You know hot dogs aren’t a health food, but they might be worse than you thought.

Lauren Smith, MASarah Gupta, MD
Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Sarah Gupta, MD
Updated on May 13, 2025
Reviewed by Sarah Gupta, MD | May 13, 2025

Processed meats are any type of meat that has been flavored, preserved, or processed. That includes smoking, fermenting, salting, and curing. Common processed meats in the United States are hot dogs, bacon, chorizo, sausage, and deli cold cuts.

In this video, learn the link between eating processed meats and the risk of colorectal cancer.

References

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Lauren Smith, MA
Written by:
Lauren Smith, MA
Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Sarah Gupta, MD
Reviewed by:
Sarah Gupta, MD
Sarah Gupta, MD, is a licensed physician with a special interest in mental health, sex and gender, eating disorders, and the human microbiome. She is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

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