Bacon, a staple of many a weekend breakfast, could be about to get a whole lot uglier if one top Labour donor has his way. Dale Vince, a prominent supporter of the Labour party, has called for cigarette-style health warnings to be placed on bacon, due to its link to cancer.
The call comes hot on the heels of a study by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which found that eating just 50g of processed meat per day - equivalent to about two slices of bacon - increased the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%. The WHO classified processed meat as "carcinogenic to humans", putting it in the same category as tobacco and asbestos.
Mr Vince, who has been a long-time advocate for healthy eating, believes that placing health warnings on bacon could go some way to informing the public of the risks associated with eating it. "We need to be aware of the risks associated with eating bacon and other processed meats," he said. "By placing health warnings on these products, we can encourage people to think twice before they eat them."
But the proposal has been met with skepticism by some, who argue that placing health warnings on bacon would be "over the top". "We already have clear labelling on food products," said one industry insider. "Consumers are aware of the risks associated with eating bacon and other processed meats. We don&39;t need cigarette-style health warnings to ram it home."
However, Mr Vince believes that the risks associated with eating bacon are so great that stronger measures are needed. "We&39;ve seen how effective cigarette-style health warnings have been in reducing smoking rates," he said. "Why not try a similar approach with bacon?"
Others have pointed out that the proposal raises questions about where to draw the line. "If we start placing health warnings on bacon, where do we stop?" asked one expert. "Should we also be placing warnings on sweets and chocolate, or even biscuits and cakes?"
Despite the skepticism, Mr Vince remains committed to his proposal. "This is about giving consumers the information they need to make informed choices about what they eat," he said. "If that means placing health warnings on bacon, then so be it."