Petition · past parliament

Processed and red meat products should carry a health warning ‘may cause cancer’

Closed 1,242 signatures

What the petition asks

In October 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that processed meat products cause cancer and were classified as Group 1 carcinogens – substances causing cancer to humans. Red meat was classified as probably carcinogenic to humans and put into Group 2A.
These decisions were based on the extensive research of 22 scientists from ten countries who formed the working group at the International Agency for Research on Cancer - the advisory body of WHO.
As processed and red meat products consumption poses a significant health risk to people of all ages and ethnicities, these products should carry a health warning to make people aware of the health risk. All processed meat and red meat products should carry a label ‘may cause cancer’.

Timeline

18 Nov 2015 Petition opened for signatures
18 May 2016 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 1,242
Status Closed
Opened 18 Nov 2015
Closed 18 May 2016

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.