Sausage 'cancer scare' another reason to go veggie?
Dedicated carnivores everywhere will be gnashing their teeth in fury at claims being made in the morning rags that eating processed meats, particularly sausages and bacon, carries a significant risk of cancer.
Eating just one sausage or three rashers of bacon a day can increase the risk of developing bowel cancer by a fifth, it is being claimed, with the ideal 'safe' amount of processed meat quoted as being 'none at all'. Now, while going vegetarian does seem an obvious solution to me, I think it's important to remember here that the claims are not being made about sausages and meat per se, but at the cheap, processed sort that have been treated with preservatives, including high amounts of salt and chemical additives called N-nitroso compounds. Follow the jump for some suggestions of where to buy sausages that don't contain these chemical nasties.
Related: Make a 'veg pledge' in time for National Vegetarian Week
Exmoor Organic Meat, whose farms are based in scenic Minehead, produces award-winning organic and free-range meat including bacon and sausages that have caught the eye of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall amongst others. Their sausages include a lamb and corriander variety, as well as pork and Whortleberries and gluten-free pork sausages. Prices start at £7.50 per kilo.
Eversfield Organics has a range of speciality sausages made using time-honoured methods. There are lots of varieties, including pork and leek, venison and gluten free; the Devon-based farm also sells 'student meat boxes' for students - perfect if you don't want your little darlings filling up on those supermarket discount things we're all so worried about!
Alternatively, you might want to think about making your own sausages; a process which in some cases doesn't even require a mincer! Check out this great FAQ on Sausagemaking.co.uk, which also has recipes for making your own veggie sausages.
