The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is a group of international experts who scrutinised the overall evidence about the issue - in this case more than 800 studies. Their decisions can be quite influential, especially with governments and regulators. According to IARC processed meat can be classified as a 'definite' cause of cancer. Red meat is only a 'probable' cause.

‘Red meat' indicates any meat that’s a dark red colour before it’s cooked –  this obviously means meats like beef and lamb, but also includes pork.

‘Processed meat' is meat that’s not sold fresh, but instead has been cured, salted, smoked, or otherwise preserved in some way (so things like bacon, sausages, hot dogs, ham, salami, etc.). But this doesn’t include fresh burgers or mince.

The decision has been highly anticipated by the media.