Red and processed meat has copped a beating from the World Cancer Research Fund recently.

In its cancer prevention plan, it recommends limiting the consumption of red meat, after reviewing 7000 studies. Here we clear up some common misconceptions about red meat.

● Is beef from grain-fed cattle bad for our health?

'Luckily, the meat we consume in Australia is lean,' says Karen Inge, consulting dietitian to the Institute of Health and Fitness.

'This is due to the way we raise our cattle. Most cattle grown in other countries are grain-fed. Ours eat grasses, move around and exercise.'

Eating beef that comes from these cattle has a positive impact on our health because it stops us from stacking on excess weight, which is a potential cancer-causing risk.

Cattle that are grain-fed for most of their lives do little exercise and spend most of their days eating. Their muscles become fatty and much of that is saturated fat, which increases our cholesterol and adds to our waist size.

In Australia, because of the drought, many cattle are 'grain-finished'. This means they roam around eating grasses, which keeps them lean, but later in life their diet is supplemented with grains.

'The meat we eat is leaner, helping us manage our weight, but it's also loaded with key nutrients essential for good health,' Kate says.

'There's protein for growth and for keeping tissues healthy, iron for haemoglobin, vitamin B12, which cares for our DNA, zinc to boost the body's immune system and omega-3s for heart health.'

Kate advises having red meat three to four times a week with the portion the size of your palm (100g to 150g).

● Is eating sausages a health risk?

The overseas reports looked at processed meats, which included sausages, and their cancer-causing risk, in particular bowel cancer.

The Cancer Council Australia suggests that we place a limit on
or avoid processed meats.

'The Cancer Council advises to go easy on or avoid processed meats because they're high in fat and salt and can contain preservatives and other artificial additives,' Karen says.

● The European Union has banned hormone growth promoters (HGP), so why does Australia allow them?

These are naturally occurring substances found in both animals and plants, according to David Thomason, Meat and Livestock Australia's general manager of marketing. They're given to beef cattle, either in their feed or as an injection, to help convert
more of the food they eat into usable meat. They're used to optimise the growth rate of cattle.

'Less than half of Australian cattle are treated with HGP,' David says. 'The World Trade Organisation has weighed up the facts and advised that there's no evidence that HGP, when it's used according to the regulations, caused any harm.

'The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority,
a government body, regulates the use of HGP. They've done studies that say there's no risk to human health, because the levels used in cattle are so low.

'If however you are concerned about eating beef with HGP, try organic meats,' advises David, adding that some butchers also promote HGP-free meat.

● Apart from the cancer concern, can eating meat affect our health?

'Unless, in a rare case, you suffer from haemochromatosis, which causes the body to absorb and store too much iron, the Dietitians Association of Australia, says lean red meat, trim premium mince, no more than 400g to 500g a week, is fine to eat,' dietitian Kate Di Prima says. 'And most Australians don't even eat this amount.'

It's better to eat lean beef or lamb rather than processed meats. Overseas studies have shown that excessive consumption of processed meats, such as salami, is said to increase the risk of cancer. However Kate says you don't have
to cut it out of your diet completely.

'If say, once a month as a treat, salami is presented on an antipasto platter at a party, having a slice isn't going to cause you ill health,' she says.

When eating other deli meats, such as ham and pastrami, Kate suggests having low-fat options once or twice a week as sandwich fillings. Alternate this with canned tuna, egg, salad, lean ham off the bone and roast meats from leftover Sunday night roast dinners.

'It's when a diet is unbalanced that problems occur,' she says.