ABSTRACT
On 26 October 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a press release revealing that a scientific literature review conducted by a group of 22 experts from 10 countries concluded that the consumption of red meat is probably carcinogenic to humans and processed meat is carcinogenic. In this context, the meat industry invested large sums of money in promoting scientific publications and public campaigns that whitewashed the image of the sector and reinforced the message about the importance of meat for human health. The reaction of the Global North’s meat industries to the WHO’s announcement on the health risks of excessive meat consumption highlights how these powerful industrial complexes use public relations tools to maintain their economic power, even if it means denying scientific evidence and risking human health.
