The meat industry in the United States and the United Kingdom is trying to dispel fears that eating red meat could increase chances of contracting breast cancer.

The alarm was raised following the publication of a report from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard Medical School, which claims to have found a relationship between hormone positive breast cancer tumors and red meat.

The report did not find a relationship between hormone negative tumors and red meat. However, the report is not definitive and earlier reports from U.C. Irvine College of Medicine in 2000 found no links between eating well done red meat and breast cancer.

The U.S. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association issued a statement from its Executive Director of Nutrition, Mary K. Young, M.S., R.D. She says, “Making dietary recommendations or restrictions based on one study would be irresponsible – especially at a time when many people aren’t getting the nutrients they need in their diets. Beef is a naturally rich source of nine essential nutrients, such as iron and zinc, which many women aren’t getting enough of each day.”

Source: meatnews.com