Doctors call for elimination of this classic lunchtime snack

In Spain, child overweight amounts to 40%. And there are more devastating data, as commented by the journalist of this newspaper Olga Pereda. The book ‘Nutrition and cancer. What science teaches us’.coordinated by Dr. Carlos A. Gonzalez Svatetz, assures us that the processed meat -bacón, butifarra, chistorra, chorizo, sobrasada, cured or cooked ham, turkey sausage, black pudding, chorizo, salchichón…- is responsible for the 1.8% of all tumors. This is a much lower figure than the number of cancers caused by tobacco or alcohol, but it must be taken into account.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared chorizo – and all other processed meats – as a group 1 carcinogen. That is, there is enough scientific evidence to affirm that it is related to the development of some types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer.

Sporadic consumption

That is why scientists and experts, such as Miquel Porta, recommend spacing its consumption. “I would not recommend anyone to eat a chorizo sandwich every morning,” said this epidemiologist at the Hospital del Mar more than five years ago.

However, the idea is not to be afraid of chorizo, but to leave it for special occasions. And not only because its consumption is associated with cancer, but also because it is associated with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality.

Added to this is the fact that the cold cut sandwich is usually made with white bread. And this contains about 230 kilocalories per 100 grams – the same amount of white rice has 130 kilocalories – making it a major source of calories.