British scientists have urged the government to introduce cigarette-style cancer warnings on packages of bacon and ham, citing their potential link to bowel cancer, The Guardian reports.

They argue that consumers have the right to be informed about the risks associated with eating processed meat containing nitrites — preservatives that give the meat its pink colour and protect it from bacterial contamination, but which can form carcinogenic compounds in the body.

The renewed call comes ten years after the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, officially classified processed meat as carcinogenic to humans, placing it in the same category as tobacco and asbestos. According to the authors of the appeal, the UK government has done almost nothing since then to reduce the public health risk. During this period, around 54,000 people in the country have developed bowel cancer, while NHS costs have exceeded £3 billion.

The scientists have sent a letter to the health secretary demanding that manufacturers be required to include a warning label stating that regular consumption of these products may increase the risk of cancer. They also call for a gradual phase-out of nitrites in food production and broader public awareness campaigns.

Representatives of the Food Standards Agency said that “the link between nitrates and nitrites and cancer has not yet been definitively proven,” but independent researchers note that even moderate measures — such as warning labels similar to those on cigarette packets — can significantly improve public awareness and help reduce consumption of potentially harmful products.