classifying red meat and processed meats as cancer risks.

將紅肉及加工肉品列為致癌物

Although the link between processed meat consumption and cancer has been documented before,

雖然早有文獻指出食用加工肉品會引發癌症

this marks the first time it has been listed alongside tobacco and asbestos as carcinogenic.

但這是首次與菸草、石棉並列為致癌物

The reclassification goes against the American meat industry's

這個新的分類法抵觸了美國肉品業

long history of promoting legislation to alter dietary guidelines in their favor.

長期推動的立法，想修改飲食指南以圖利自身產業

So we wanted to know, just how powerful is the meat industry?

這就令人好奇了，究竟肉品業的勢力有多龐大？

Well, overall, meat has been estimated to contribute nearly a trillion dollars to the US economy,

整體來說，美國的經濟估計光是肉品的消費就貢獻了一兆美元

roughly 6% of the GDP.

大約占據國內生產總值的 6%

Worldwide, livestock used for meat are actually responsible for more greenhouse emissions than even cars.

全球被拿來當作肉品的家畜，所排放的溫室氣體更是超過汽車的總排放

But despite this, the massive flood of cash and jobs has made the meat lobby

儘管如此，大量的金流與工作機會讓肉品業的說客

one of the most influential legislative groups in Washington.

成為華盛頓中最具影響力的立法團體

In 2014, they spent more than 4 million dollars lobbying Congress.

2014 年，肉品業為了向國會議員關說，砸下逾 400 萬美元

By comparison, gun control advocates spent less than half that amount.

相較之下，支持槍枝管制的倡議者的經費不到他們的一半

The meat industry has also been closely tied to the US Department of Agriculture, which releases dietary guidelines for Americans.

肉品業者跟美國農業部也是關係匪淺，而他們就是編制國人飲食指南的機構

Understandably, the relationship between meat manufacturers and the US government

不難理解地，肉品製造商與美國政府的關係

has many questioning whether those guidelines are actually in Americans' best interests.

讓很多人懷疑，飲食指南的設計是否真的是為了大眾的健康著想

Especially considering that the USDA even runs programs which are intended to fund advertising for meat and dairy.

尤其因為美國農業部甚至有方案，專門補助肉品及乳品的廣告宣傳活動

The Atlantic reports that at least since 1977,

大西洋雜誌曾報導過，至少從 1977 年開始

efforts by the USDA to suggest decreasing meat consumption have been repeatedly derailed.

美國農業部為倡導減少肉品消費所做的努力被一再地破壞

Due to pressure from the meat industry, instead of telling consumers to eat less,

由於肉品業者的施壓，政府並沒有勸導消費者少吃肉

they have been told to eat more “lean” meats.

反而轉為鼓勵多購買瘦肉

But the overall recommended amount of meat has been kept relatively steady over the past few years.

然而過去幾年來，政府對肉類的建議攝取量，整體來說差異不大　

This, despite the fact that Americans on average actually consume considerably more protein than they need.

即便美國人平均攝取的蛋白質已超出所需

Eating less meat overall would lower both fat and protein consumption,

少吃肉對民眾而言，是少攝取了點脂肪和蛋白質

but for the meat industry, that might be their worst nightmare.

但對於肉品產業而言，這可是天大的噩耗

And that's not because Americans themselves follow USDA guidelines all that strictly.

這不是因為美國人嚴守美國農業部的飲食指南

American meat consumption has already been dropping over the past two decades.

過去 20 年來，民眾對肉品的需求已逐漸下滑

Rather, these guidelines are most utilized by federal feeding programs,

確切的原因是，飲食指南主要運用在聯邦政府的公共飲食規劃

like those used in schools and prisons.

像是學校及監獄的膳食

A lower recommended amount of meat would translate to a massive financial loss for suppliers.

因此建議較低的肉品量，會直接導致業者損失龐大的利潤

But the meat industry hasn't just influenced the USDA to keep meat amounts the same.

業者不只施壓美國農業部使其維持穩定的肉品需求

It has also intervened in food safety.

甚至還介入食品安全的政策

In the 1990s, attempts to start testing for salmonella in ground beef were opposed by the meat industry.

1990 年代，政府試圖查驗牛絞肉中的沙門氏菌，卻被肉品業反對阻饒

A congressman with financial ties to the meat industry called for more hearings and delays

一位與肉品業者有利益掛勾的議員，訴請召開多場聽證會與延期

against new food safety guidelines.

以阻撓新的食品安全管理法

Similarly, despite heavy support from environmental groups as well as the public,

同樣的情形，儘管受環保團體及民眾的大力支持

the USDA has refused to incorporate sustainability goals into their projected dietary guidelines.

美國農業部拒絕把生態永續性列入飲食指南的規劃內

Luckily, the USDA's 2015 dietary guidelines are expected to actually impose some limits on meat consumption.

值得慶幸的是，美國農業部 2015 年官方的飲食指南，傳出將部分限制肉品的攝取

In addition to advising against red and processed meat, they will also downplay the supposed health benefits of lean meats.

除了會宣導少吃紅肉及加工肉品，也不再強調「瘦肉對健康有益」

However, final guidelines have not yet been released, and will no doubt be further influenced by the meat industry.

然而最終的飲食指南目前尚未公佈，而且毫無疑問地，肉品業者將會持續干預

Bacon is included among the list of meats with cancer risks,

培根此次也被列入致癌的名單中

and for a long time, it's been a staple of American culture.

長期以來，培根一直是美國飲食文化中的主食

To find out more about the history of bacon, check out this video by Secret Daily.

想了解更多培根的歷史，來看看 Secret Daily 的這支影片

It did take a hit around the 1980s and 90s, when the low fat diet became popular.

在 1980 與 90 年代時低脂飲食盛行，培根的確有受到影響

But it did not end America's bacon passion.

但這並沒有澆熄美國對於培根的熱愛

Around this time, the Atkins diet and low carb high protein movement started to gain popularity.

在這段時間，阿金減肥法與低碳高蛋白飲食的提倡開始流行

So there was yet another shift in how Americans perceived bacon.

所以美國對於培根的看法又有另一波變化

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謝謝您觀賞 TestTube News!

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記得要按讚並訂閱，收看我們每日的新影片